Molecular medicine: a path towards a personalized medicine

• Published in: Revista brasileira de psiquiatria 2012-03, Vol.34 (1), p.82-91
• Main Authors: de Miranda, Debora Marques, Mamede, Marcelo, de Souza, Bruno Rezende, de Almeida Barros, Alexandre Guimarães, Magno, Luiz Alexandre, Alvim-Soares, Antônio, Rosa, Daniela Valadão, de Castro, Célio José, Malloy-Diniz, Leandro, Gomez, Marcus Vinícius, De Marco, Luiz Armando, Correa, Humberto, Romano-Silva, Marco Aurélio
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Animal Models; Biomarcadores; Biomarkers; Medicina molecular; Modelos animais; Molecular Medicine; Neuroimagem; Neuroimaging; PET/CT; PSYCHIATRY
• ISSN: 1516-4446; 1809-452X; 1809-452X
• DOI: 10.1590/S1516-44462012000100015

Psychiatric disorders are among the most common human illnesses; still, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying their complex pathophysiology remain to be fully elucidated. Over the past 10 years, our group has been investigating the molecular abnormalities in major signaling pathways involved in psychiatric disorders. Recent evidences obtained by the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Medicina Molecular (National Institute of Science and Technology - Molecular Medicine, INCT-MM) and others using behavioral analysis of animal models provided valuable insights into the underlying molecular alterations responsible for many complex neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting that “defects” in critical intracellular signaling pathways have an important role in regulating neurodevelopment, as well as in pathophysiology and treatment efficacy. Resources from the INCT have allowed us to start doing research in the field of molecular imaging. Molecular imaging is a research discipline that visualizes, characterizes, and quantifies the biologic processes taking place at cellular and molecular levels in humans and other living systems through the results of image within the reality of the physiological environment. In order to recognize targets, molecular imaging applies specific instruments (e.g., PET) that enable visualization and quantification in space and in real-time of signals from molecular imaging agents. The objective of molecular medicine is to individualize treatment and improve patient care. Thus, molecular imaging is an additional tool to achieve our ultimate goal. Os transtornos psiquiátricos estão entre as doenças humanas mais comuns. Os mecanismos celulares e moleculares subjacentes à sua complexa fisiopatologia ainda não estão totalmente esclarecidos. Nosso grupo está envolvido na investigação de anormalidades moleculares nas principais vias de sinalização das doenças psiquiátricas nos últimos 10 anos. Evidências recentemente obtidas pelo Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Medicina Molecular (INCT-MM), utilizando análise comportamental de modelos animais, forneceram informações valiosas sobre as alterações moleculares subjacentes responsáveis por muitos distúrbios neuropsiquiátricos complexos, sugerindo que os “defeitos” nas vias de sinalização intracelular têm um papel importante na regulação do neurodesenvolvimento, bem como na fisiopatologia e eficácia do tratamento. Recursos do INCT nos permitiram iniciar pesquisas na