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Decreased expression of Gαs mRNA and protein levels in lithium‐treated bipolar affective disorder
Author(s) -
Karege Felicien,
Buresi Catherine,
Golaz Jean,
Schwald Michele,
Malafosse Alain
Publication year - 2000
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(200004)15:3<191::aid-hup157>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - lithium (medication) , bipolar disorder , messenger rna , protein expression , psychology , expression (computer science) , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , computer science , gene , programming language
The present work was aimed at assessing the GTP‐binding (Gαs subunit) protein expression in lithium‐treated bipolar patients (BP). Mononuclear leukocyte Gαs protein and mRNA were measured both in patients and in a comparison group. The patient group consisted of 15 lithium‐treated patients with bipolar affective disorder, all diagnosed as euthymic bipolars, and a comparison group of 15 drug‐free healthy subjects. The method of competitive Reverse Transcriptase coupled to Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to estimate the relative abundance of Gαs mRNA, whereas the Western‐immunoblot method was used to estimate Gαs levels. Results of both Gαs proteins and Gαs mRNA levels from patients were compared to those of non‐treated control subjects. By using the competitive RT‐PCR method, the Gαs mRNA displayed a significant decrease in the lithium‐treated bipolar patients compared to non‐treated controls: the ratio / was 1\81±0\05 versus 2\51±0\6 for BP and controls, respectively (Mann‐Whitney test, < 0%sol;001). Studying the same groups with respect to their protein levels, it was shown that Gαs levels were also significantly decreased in the group of bipolar patients (normalized values to a standard yielded 81\2±21 per cent versus 122\5±25 per cent for BP and controls, respectively; Mann‐Whitney test, < 0\001). Data indicated that lithium induces a decrease both in Gαs protein levels and in Gαs mRNA synthesis in BP with respect to drug‐free healthy subjects. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.