Br. J Psychiatry Suppl 2001 Jun;41:s137-41
Serial Analysis of Gene Expression In The Frontal
Cortex of Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Sun Y, Zhang L, Johnston NL, Torrey EF, Yolken RH
BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is a serious
brain disease affecting more than a million individuals living in the USA.
Epidemiological studies indicate a role for both genetic and environmental
factors in the pathogenesis of this disorder.
AIM: To identify RNA transcripts that are up- or
down-regulated in the frontal cortex regions of individuals with bipolar
disorder.
METHOD: Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE)
and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were used to identify RNA
transcripts which are differentially expressed in the frontal cortex of brains
obtained postmortem from individuals with bipolar disorder compared with other
psychiatric and control conditions.
RESULTS: Levels of RNA transcripts encoding the
serotonin transporter protein and components of the NK-kappa B transcription
factor complex are significantly increased in individuals with bipolar disorder
compared with unaffected controls. Increased levels of these RNA
transcripts were also detected in the brains of some individuals with
schizophrenia and unipolar depression.
CONCLUSION: The SAGE technique offers promise for
the characterization of complex human brain diseases.