Author/Authors :
Shariati, Gholam Reza Department of Medical Genetic - National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran , Ahangari, Ghasem Department of Medical Genetic - National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran , Hossein-nezhad, Arash Department of Medical Genetic - National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran , Asadi, Mohammad Department of Psychiatric - Rozbeh Hospital - Tehran University Medical sciences, Tehran , Pooyafard, Farzaneh Department of Psychiatric - Rozbeh Hospital - Tehran University Medical sciences, Tehran , Ahmadkhaniha, Hamid Reza Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Serotonin receptors are involved in pathophysiology of schizophrenia and may mediate
other neurotransmitter effects.
We investigated serotonin receptors gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMC) of naïve schizophrenic patients, before and after treatment. Also serotonin
receptor gene expression was compared in two treatment groups including Haloperidol and
Olanzapine. The PBMC was separated from whole blood by Ficoll-hypaque. The total
cellular RNA was extracted and the cDNA was synthesized. This process was followed by
real-time PCR using primer pairs specific for 5HT3a serotonin receptor mRNA and betaactin
as internal control.
The results showed the presence of subtype of serotonin receptor in lymphocytes.
Serotonin gene expression showed significant changes in Olanzapine treatment group which
correlated with Clinical Global Impression (CGI) score improvement.
In conclusion, the present study has shown that human PBMC express serotonin
receptors 5HT3a. Moreover, clinical symptom improvement of Olanzapin may be
demonstrated by a change in serotonin receptor gene expression.
Keywords :
Haloperidol , Olanzapin , Schizophrenia , Serotonin receptor , 5HT3a
