Decreased GRK3 but not GRK2 expression in frontal cortex from bipolar disorder patients

Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009 Jul;12(6):851-60. doi: 10.1017/S146114570900025X. Epub 2009 Apr 29.

Abstract

Overactivation of G-protein-mediated functions and altered G-protein regulation have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) brain. Further, drugs effective in treating BD are reported to up-regulate expression of G-protein receptor kinase (GRK) 3 in rat frontal cortex. We therefore hypothesized that some G-protein subunits and GRK levels would be reduced in the brain of BD patients. We determined protein and mRNA levels of G-protein beta and gamma subunits, GRK2, and GRK3 in post-mortem frontal cortex from 10 BD patients and 10 age-matched controls by using immunoblots and real-time RT-PCR. There were statistically significant decreases in protein and mRNA levels of G-protein subunits beta and gamma and of GRK3 in BD brain but not a significant difference in the GRK2 level. Decreased expression of G-protein subunits and of GRK3 may alter neurotransmission, leading to disturbed cognition and behaviour in BD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bipolar Disorder / genetics
  • Bipolar Disorder / pathology
  • Bipolar Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmortem Changes
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3
  • GRK2 protein, human
  • GRK3 protein, human
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2