Reduced platelet vesicular monoamine transporter density in smoking schizophrenia patients

Brain vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) has a critical role in the regulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission. In our previous study we have found decreased platelet VMAT2 density in healthy habitual smokers. Schizophrenia is associated with high rate of cigarette smoking. In the present...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European neuropsychopharmacology 2005-10, Vol.15 (5), p.557-561
Main Authors: Schwartz, Karin, Iancu, Iulian, Stryjer, Rafael, Chelben, Joseph, Kotler, Moshe, Weizman, Abraham, Rehavi, Moshe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age of Onset
Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use
Blood Platelets - metabolism
Brain - metabolism
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - blood
Schizophrenia - drug therapy
Smoking
Smoking - blood
Vesicular monoamine transporter
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Summary:Brain vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) has a critical role in the regulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission. In our previous study we have found decreased platelet VMAT2 density in healthy habitual smokers. Schizophrenia is associated with high rate of cigarette smoking. In the present study we assessed platelet VMAT2 pharmacodynamic characteristics in a population of medicated schizophrenia patients ( n = 36) comparing smokers ( n = 23) vs. non-smokers ( n = 13). A significant decrease in platelet VMAT2 density (24%, p = 0.005) was found in the smokers compared to the non-smokers . This decrease was not ascribed to the pharmacotherapy. An inverse correlation was found in the smokers between the platelet VMAT2 density and the severity of schizophrenia as assessed by the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Our observation in schizophrenia patients is consistent with that found in healthy smokers. The complex relationship between VMAT2 expression, cigarette smoking and schizophrenia merits a further large scale study.
ISSN:0924-977X
1873-7862
DOI:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2005.02.005