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Expression of GABA receptors subunits in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is gender dependent, altered in pregnancy and modified by mental health
Author(s) -
Bhandage A. K.,
Hellgren C.,
Jin Z.,
Olafsson E. B.,
SundströmPoromaa I.,
Birnir B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.12440
Subject(s) - receptor , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , pregnancy , gabaa receptor , medicine , endocrinology , immune system , biology , immunology , biochemistry , genetics , in vitro
Aim The concept of nerve‐driven immunity recognizes a link between the nervous and the immune system. γ ‐aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and receptors activated by GABA can be expressed by immune cells. Here, we examined whether the expression of GABA receptors and chloride transporters in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC s) was influenced by gender, pregnancy or mental health. Methods We used RT ‐ qPCR to determine the mRNA expression level in PBMCs from men ( n = 16), non‐pregnant women ( n = 19), healthy pregnant women ( n = 27) and depressed pregnant women ( n = 15). Results The ρ 2 subunit had the most prominent expression level of the GABA ‐A receptor subunits in all samples. The δ and ρ 2 subunits were up‐regulated by pregnancy, whereas the ε subunit was more frequently expressed in healthy pregnant women than non‐pregnant women who, in turn, commonly expressed the α 6 and the γ 2 subunits. The β 1 and ε subunits expression was altered by depression in pregnant women. The GABA ‐B1 receptor was up‐regulated by depression in pregnant women, while the transporters NKCC 1 and KCC 4 were down‐regulated by pregnancy. The changes recorded in the mRNA expression levels imply participation of GABA receptors in establishing and maintaining tolerance in pregnancy. Importantly, the correlation of mental health with the expression of specific receptor subunits reveals a connection between the immune cells and the brain. Biomarkers for mental health may be identified in PBMC s. Conclusion The results demonstrate the impact gender, pregnancy and mental health have on the expression of GABA receptors and chloride transporters expressed in human PBMC s.