Expression of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is decreased in leukocytes of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2008.11.011
• Publication Date: 2008-12-01T09:16:16Z
• Authors: K.C.L. Torres; B.R. Souza; D.M. Miranda; A.M. Sampaio; R. Nicolato; F.S. Neves; A.G.A. Barros; W.O. Dutra; K.J. Gollob; H. Correa; M.A. Romano-Silva
• Keywords: Adult; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; 0301 basic medicine; B-Lymphocytes; Bipolar Disorder; Antigens, CD19; Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; Neuropeptides; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; Middle Aged; Flow Cytometry; CD56 Antigen; Monocytes; 3. Good health; Killer Cells, Natural; 03 medical and health sciences; Leukocytes; Humans; Female; Biomarkers; Aged

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD) are severe illnesses representing an enormous social, familiar and individual burden that affect 1% of the population world-wide. Several evidences indicate abnormalities of the dopamine system in both SCZ and BPD. Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is a protein that has many functions in neurotransmission such as inhibition of dopamine D(2) receptor desensitization, regulation of ionic channels and enhancement of exocytosis of neurotransmitters. In addition, NCS-1 protein expression and mRNA levels were found increased in pre-frontal cortex (PFC) of SCZ and BPD patients. NCS-1 expression in neural and neuroendocrine cells is well documented and, recently, it was shown that NCS-1 is also expressed in mast cells and neutrophils. NCS-1 has important functions in mast cells since it stimulates Fc epsilon RI-triggered exocytosis and the release of arachidonic acid metabolites. Then, due to the known close relation between the nervous and immune systems, we sought to investigate the NCS-1 expression in lymphocytes and monocytes (CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD56+ NK cells, CD19+ B lymphocytes and CD14+ monocytes) of SCZ and BPD patients. Using flow cytometry, our results have shown that NCS-1 expression was diminished in CD4+T lymphocytes, CD19+ B lymphocytes and CD14+ monocytes of BPD patients and also decreased in CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD56+ NK cells of SCZ patients. Results suggest that immune cells might be a cellular model for studies with SCZ and BPD patients considering NCS-1 functions. Efforts need to be done to investigate the motive of the decreased percentage of immune cells expressing NCS-1 in patients with SCZ and BPD.