Serotonin and glycogen synthase kinase 3B in platelets of elderly patients with major depressive disorder: sertraline effects

A depressão é o mais comum dos distúrbios afetivos. Afeta ao menos 10% da população idosa do Brasil. Nos idosos, alguns fatores ligados ao metabolismo parecem estar bastante relacionados a esse transtorno, como uma menor concentração de noradrenalina e serotonina (5-HT) e uma maior atividade da monoaminooxidase em relação a adultos jovens. Os inibidores seletivos da recaptação da serotonina (ISRS), principalmente a sertralina, são a primeira opção no tratamento da fase aguda e manutenção dos episódios depressivos em idosos. As plaquetas vêm sendo amplamente utilizadas como modelo para estudar na periferia alterações que ocorrem no sistema nervoso central. A 5-HT apesar de ser primordialmente expressa no cérebro, também pode ser encontrada em plaquetas. Este neurotransmissor está envolvido em inúmeros aspectos do funcionamento normal do cérebro desde a regulação do humor até a regulação hormonal. A deficiência nos níveis de 5-HT pode estar intimamente ligada a alguma anormalidade na atividade da glicogênio sintase quinase 3B(GSK3B). Esta enzima exerce funções no metabolismo celular que vão desde sobrevivência celular, metabolismo e processamento de proteínas, até processos cognitivos. A atividade da GSK3B é estreitamente regulada pela fosforilação. Fosforilação no sítio ser9 inativa a enzima, enquanto que a desfosforilação neste mesmo sítio ativa a enzima. Diversos estudos têm mostrado que a forma inativa da enzima exerce um efeito neuroprotetor. O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a influência do tratamento com sertralina, em pacientes idosos com diagnóstico de depressão maior, sobre a 5- HT e GSK3B após 3 e 12 meses de tratamento. A quantificação da 5-HT foi realizada por HPLC e da GSK3B plaquetária, pelos métodos de ELISA e blotting, que se revelaram equivalentes. Após um ano de tratamento encontramos uma diminuição da 5-HT plaquetária nos pacientes com depressão maior com relação aos níveis basais, bem como um aumento da forma total da enzima GSK3B (GSKT), uma diminuição da forma fosforilada (pGSK) e da razão entre pGSK e GSKT (rGSK). Quando comparados os níveis de GSK3B de pacientes tratados por um ano e controles, observamos uma maior expressão de GSKT em pacientes; enquanto a pGSK e rGSK se mostraram equivalentes. Pudemos observar, portanto, uma modulação da 5-HT e da GSK3B pelo uso de sertralina. Essa modulação pode indicar que a ação antidepressiva deste fármaco pode estar associada a essas vias de sinalizaçãoDepression is the most common affective disorders. It affects at least 10% of the elderly population of Brazil. In the elderly, some factors related to metabolism appear to be closely related to this disorder, such as lower concentration of noradrenaline and serotonin (5-HT) and increased monoamine oxidase activity in relation to young adults. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), especially sertraline are the first choice in treating acute and maintenance of depressive episodes in the elderly. Platelets have been widely used as a model to study in peripheral changes that occur in Central Nervous System. Although 5-HT is primarily expressed in the brain, it can also be found in platelets. This neurotransmitter is involved in numerous aspects of normal brain function since the regulation of mood to the hormonal regulation. A deficiency in 5-HT levels may be closely related to an abnormality in glycogen synthase kinase 3B (GSK3B) activity. This enzyme plays several functions in cell metabolism, ranging from cell survival, metabolism and protein processing, to cognitive processes. The GSK3B activity is tightly regulated by phosphorylation. Phosphorylation on Ser9 site inactives the enzyme, whereas dephosphorylation in the same site actives the enzyme. Several studies have shown that the inactive form of the enzyme plays a neuroprotective effect. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of sertraline in elderly patients diagnosed with major depression, on platelet 5-HT and GSK3B after 3 and 12 months of treatment. Quantification of 5-HT was performed by HPLC and GSK3B by ELISA and western blotting. The methods for platelet GSK3B determination showed to be equivalent. After one year of treatment we found a decrease of platelet 5-HT in patients with major depression relative to their baseline levels, as well as an increase in the total form of GSK3B enzyme (GSKT), a decrease in phosphorylated form (pGSK) and the ratio between pGSK and GSKT (rGSK). Comparing the levels of GSK3B of patients with one year of treatment and controls, we found a higher GSKT expression in patients; while pGSK and rGSK showed to be equivalent. Therefore we observed a modulation of 5-HT and GSK3B by sertraline. This modulation may indicate that the antidepressant action of this drug may be associated with these signaling pathway

Proteomic of schizophrenia: research in biomarkers in platelets

Esquizofrenia é um transtorno psiquiátrico complexo que afeta cerca de 1% da população mundial. Apesar de progressos consideráveis nos últimos anos, a etiologia da doença ainda não foi elucidada principalmente pela heterogeneidade tanto do início quanto da progressão da doença. Frequentemente os sintomas dos pacientes são comuns a outras desordens neuropsiquiátricas, dificultando a diferenciação por meio de métodos essencialmente clínicos. Por isso, pesquisadores têm tentado identificar medidas baseadas em características moleculares que justifiquem e expliquem a etiologia da esquizofrenia. Já há alguns estudos com marcadores no cérebro, mas por esse ser um material com disponibilidade limitada, os esforços tem se concentrado em encontrar biomarcadores periféricos. Este estudo visou traçar um perfil proteico, em plaquetas, de pacientes drug-naïve com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia. Para tanto, comparamos este grupo com controles saudáveis e com controles psiquiátricos. Utilizamos duas abordagens proteômicas complementares para análise: a primeira, uma ferramenta clássica utilizando eletroforese bidimensional com posterior identificação dos spots por espectrometria de massas; e a segunda, uma abordagem de identificação em larga escala por shotgun label-free. Foram analisadas amostras de 16 controles saudáveis, de 11 pacientes com esquizofrenia e de 8 pacientes com transtornos do humor (controle psiquiátrico). Com a eletroforese bidimensional foram identificados 110 spots comuns nos géis de controles saudáveis, 83 spots comuns aos géis de pacientes com esquizofrenia e 80 spots comuns aos géis de pacientes com diagnóstico de transtornos do humor. Foram encontrados 27 spots exclusivos do grupo controle, não sendo detectados em nenhum dos dois grupos de pacientes. Esses spots foram recortados e analisados por espectrometria de massas revelando proteínas relacionadas com: neurotransmissão, sinapse, neurodesenvolvimento, homeostase celular, sinalização de cálcio, apoptose, resposta imune, e estresse oxidativo. Para verificação dos resultados, escolhemos proteínas de acordo com sua função já descrita na literatura e ineditismo na matriz e na casuística estudadas. Por meio da técnica de western blotting, encontramos diminuições significantes nos níveis de anexina A3 e peroxirredoxina 6 nos dois grupos de pacientes. Ambas proteínas diferentemente expressas nos pacientes já foram relacionadas à fosfolipase A2, que é a principal enzima responsável pelo metabolismo de fosfolípides de membrana e tem sido associada à desordens neuropsiquiátricas, inclusive à esquizofrenia. Ainda há algumas abordagens analíticas e bioinformáticas a serem realizadas na busca por candidatos a biomarcadores de esquizofrenia em plaquetas. Os resultados obtidos por shotgun necessitam de uma análise mais aprofundada além da verificação e validação em coortes maiores. A casuística utilizada para este trabalho é bastante valiosa já que permitirá a elucidação de alterações proteômicas já no primeiro episódio psicóticoSchizophrenia is a mulfatorial psychiatric disorder that affects about 1% of the world\'s population. Despite considerable progress in recent years, the etiology of the disease has not yet been elucidated mainly because the heterogeneity of disease onset and progression. Often the symptoms overlap to other neuropsychiatric disorders, which turns difficult to differentiate through essentially clinical methods. The researchers have focused in identify mesureable molecular characteristics that can help to elucidate schizophrenia etiology. There are already important findings regarding markers in the brain, but recent efforts have focused on finding peripheral biomarkers. This study aimed to find a protein profile in platelets of schizophrenia drug-naïve patients. For comparision we recruited two more groups: healthy controls and psychiatric control. We used two complementary proteomic approaches for analysis: a classic tool using two-dimensional electrophoresis with subsequent identification of the spots by mass spectrometry; and a large-scale label-free shotgun identification approach. The sample comprised 11 schizophrenic patients, 8 patients with mood disorders (psychiatric control and 16 healthy controls. 2-DE profiles of each sample were generated in triplicate. 110 proteins spots were identified in most gels of control group, 83 in most gels of schizophrenia group, and 80 proteins spots in most gels of bipolar disorder patients. Among these proteins spots, 76 were common to all three groups; 5 to controls and schizophrenia group; 2 common to controls and bipolar disorders groups; 2 exclusive of bipolar disorder patients and 27 proteins spots were identified exclusively in the control group. The 27 exclusive protein spots of control group were identified by LC-MS/MS. Proteins related to neurotransmission, synapse, neurodevelopment, cellular homeostasis, calcium signaling, apoptosis, immune response, and oxidative stress were identified. To verify the results, we chose proteins according to their function already described in the literature and novelty in platelets and first onset psychosis patients research. By western blotting we verified the difference in levels of annexin A3 and peroxiredoxin 6 between groups, but not of glutathione S-transferase pi 1 or 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein. Both proteins differentially expressed have already been related to phospholipase A2, which is the main enzyme responsible for the membrane phospholipids metabolism and has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Despite the good and promising results presented and published, there are still some analytical and bioinformatic approaches to be performed in search for candidates for platelet schizophrenia biomarkers. The data from shotgun approach require further analysis, as well as verification and validation in larger cohorts. The sample enrroled in this study is greatly important and certainly informed us much about the proteomic alterations still in the first onset psychosi

Higher proportion of inactive Gsk3β in platelets of elderly patients with bipolar disorder: an effect of treatment?

Objective: It has been postulated that mood stabilizers inhibit glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (Gsk3β) activity, mainly through its phosphorylation on serine-9 (Ser9). However, in vivo studies addressing Gsk3β activity in patients with bipolar disorder are scarce. Here, we compare Gsk3β inactivation (as indicated by Ser9-phosphorylation) in platelets of elderly patients with bipolar disorder undergoing clinical treatment and healthy elderly adults not taking medication. Methods: Platelet samples were obtained from 37 elderly adults (bipolar disorder = 19, controls = 18). Relative changes in Gsk3β inactivation was estimated by comparing the ratios of phosphorylated Gsk3β to total Gsk3β (p-Gsk3β Ser9/Gsk3β) between the disease and control groups. Results: Phosphorylated-Gsk3β (p < 0.001) and the p-Gsk3β Ser9/Gsk3β ratio (p = 0.006) were elevated in bipolar patients. In the bipolar disorder group, p-Gsk3β Ser9/Gsk3β was positively correlated with serum lithium levels (r = 0.478, p = 0.039). Conclusions: Gsk3β inactivation is higher in this group of elderly adults undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder. However, whether the treatment or the disease causes Gsk3β inactivation was confounded by the lack of an unmedicated, bipolar control group and the non-uniform treatment regimens of the bipolar disorder group. Thus, further studies should help distinguish whether Gsk3β inactivation is an effect of drug treatment or an intrinsic characteristic of bipolar disorder

Platelet GSK3B activity in patients with late-life depression: Marker of depressive episode severity and cognitive impairment?

Objective. Increased GSK3B activity has been reported as a state marker of major affective episodes in patients with depression and bipolar disorder. No study so far has addressed GSK3B activity in late-life depression. The aims of the present study were to determine GSK3B activity in platelets of elderly patients with major depression, and the association between GSK3B activity and the severity of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment. Methods. Forty drug-free elderly patients with major depressive episode were compared to healthy older adults (n == 13). Severity of the depressive episode and current cognitive state were determined by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and the Cambridge Cognitive Test (CAMCOG), respectively. Total- and ser-9-phosphorylated GSK3B (tGSK3B and pGSK3B) were determined in platelets by enzyme immunometric assays (EIA). GSK3B activity was indirectly inferred by the GSK3B ratio (i.e. pGSK3B/tGSK3B). Results. Elderly depressed patients had significantly lower pGSK3B levels (P == 0.03) and GSK3B ratio (P == 0.03), indicating higher GSK3B activity. Higher GSK3B activity were observed in patients with severe depressive episode (HAM-D scores > 22, P == 0.03) and with cognitive impairment (CAMCOG scores < 86, P == 0.01). Conclusion. The present findings provide additional evidence of the involvement of GSK3B in the pathophysiology of late-life major depression. Higher GSK3B activity may be more relevant in those patients with more severe depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)[02/12633-7]Associacao Beneficente Alzira Denise Hertzog da Silva (ABADHS)CAPES, Brazi

The 2019 Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference, 10-14 April, Orlando, Florida: A summary of topics and trends

The Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS) recently held its first North American congress, which took place in Orlando, Florida from 10-14 April 2019. The overall theme of this year&#39;s congress was United in Progress - with the aim of cultivating a collaborative effort towards advancing the field of schizophrenia research. Student travel awardees provided reports of the oral sessions and concurrent symposia that took place during the congress. A collection of these reports is summarized and presented below and highlights the main themes and topics that emerged during the congress. In summary, the congress covered a broad range of topics relevant to the field of psychiatry today.</p