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Change in platelet GTP‐Binding protein in drug‐free depressed patients
Author(s) -
Karege Félicien,
Bovier Philippe,
Stepanian Renata,
Gaillard JeanMichel
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199603)11:2<115::aid-hup762>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - g protein , gtp' , gtp binding protein regulators , platelet , medicine , endocrinology , guanine , stimulation , depression (economics) , signal transduction , binding protein , receptor , biology , nucleotide , biochemistry , gene , enzyme , macroeconomics , economics
In order to examine the status of cell signal transduction in depression, we measured in the same subjects both the platelet guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) levels and G protein function in drug‐free depressed patients. G protein levels were measured thanks to the method of Western immunoblot of three G protein subunits, i.e. Gαi 2 ; Gαq and Gβ. The G protein function was assessed by the method of GTPγS binding through platelet α2‐adrenoceptor stimulation. The results showed an increase in immunoreactivity of the three G proteins in major depressed patients. The study of GTPγS binding on platelet membrane showed a significant decrease in drug‐free depressed patients with respect to age‐ and gender‐matched controls. These data suggest that uncoupling of α2‐adrenoceptor from G proteins, whose levels were increased, may be found in depression.