Research Paper: Genes Encoding GABA-β and HT1D Receptors in Bipolar I (Manic Phase) Patients

Introduction: According to the cumulative evidence, genes encoding GABA receptors inhibit neurotransmitters in CNS and are intricately involved in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. Based on this hypothesis, these genes may be expressed in bipolar patients. As a result, we evaluated the gene expressions of GABA-β3 and HT1D receptors to assess their associations with bipolar mood disorder. Methods: In this study, 22 patients with bipolar I disorder (single manic episode) and 22 healthy individuals were enrolled. All participants were older than 15 years and had referred to Farshchian Hospital, Hamadan, Iran. They were diagnosed based on DSM IV–TR criteria and young mania rating scale in order to determine the severity of mania by a psychiatrist as bipolar Type 1 disorder in manic episode. We evaluated the expression of GABA–β3 and HT1D receptor genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using real-time RT-PCR analysis. Results: In our study, a reduction in the gene expression of GABA–β3 and HT1D receptors was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with bipolar disorders compared to the healthy controls. Conclusion: The results of this study supports the hypothesis that the gene expression for serotonin and GABA receptors can be employed in elucidating the pathogenesis of bipolar disorders.