Decrease of the D4 dopamine receptor messenger RNA expression in lymphocytes from patients with major depression

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry 2002-10, Vol.26 (6), p.1155-1160
• Main Authors: ROCCA, Paola, DE LEO, Concetta, EVA, Carola, MARCHIARO, Livio, MILANI, Anna Maria, MUSSO, Rita, RAVIZZA, Luigi, ZANALDA, Enrico, BOGETTO, Filippo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - biosynthesis; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Densitometry; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - blood; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; Mood disorders; Oligonucleotide Probes; Paroxetine - therapeutic use; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - biosynthesis; Receptors, Dopamine D4; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0278-5846(02)00253-1

The evaluation of the possible role of dopamine in psychiatric disorders has been limited by the relative inadequacy of tools. A tempting approach to examine alterations of dopaminergic system in major depression is to examine the expression of dopamine receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). D4 dopamine receptor (D4DR) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in PBMC from 12 patients with major depressive disorder was examined before and after an 8-week treatment with paroxetine at 20-50 mg/day. Ten healthy subjects were analyzed in parallel. The relative content of D4DR mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). using beta-actin as internal standard. D4DR mRNA levels were significantly decreased in untreated depressed patients as compared to controls. D4DR mRNA expression returned to control levels after paroxetine treatment, when patients achieved a significant improvement of depressive symptoms. Results of our study suggest the role of PBMC D4DR mRNA expression as a peripheral marker of the central dopaminergic function in major depression.