TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence for additionally increased apoptosis in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of major depressive patients with a high risk for suicide
AU - Amidfar, Meysam
AU - Kim, Yong Ku
AU - Scaini, Giselli
AU - Quevedo, João
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was financially supported in part by the Health Ministry of Iran.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2018/6
Y1 - 2018/6
N2 - Several studies have suggested a pathophysiological role of blood cell apoptosis in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MDD patients with a high risk for suicide relative to those without a high risk for suicide as well as healthy subjects. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas as well as the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was examined in the PBMCs of 30 MDD patients with a high risk for suicide, 30 MDD patients without a high risk for suicide, and 30 healthy controls. The mRNA expression of target genes was measured using real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). FAS mRNA expression was significantly increased, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression and the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio were significantly decreased, in the PBMCs of MDD patients with or without a high risk for suicide attempts compared to healthy controls (p <.001). However, Bax mRNA expression was significantly increased only in MDD patients with a high risk for suicide. Moreover, MDD patients with a high risk for suicide had increased Bax and FAS mRNA expression and decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio when compared to patients without risk for suicide (p <.001). Our findings may support the role of both internal and external apoptotic pathways in the interplay between the immune system and depressive symptoms, especially in patients with a high risk for suicide.
AB - Several studies have suggested a pathophysiological role of blood cell apoptosis in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MDD patients with a high risk for suicide relative to those without a high risk for suicide as well as healthy subjects. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas as well as the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was examined in the PBMCs of 30 MDD patients with a high risk for suicide, 30 MDD patients without a high risk for suicide, and 30 healthy controls. The mRNA expression of target genes was measured using real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). FAS mRNA expression was significantly increased, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression and the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio were significantly decreased, in the PBMCs of MDD patients with or without a high risk for suicide attempts compared to healthy controls (p <.001). However, Bax mRNA expression was significantly increased only in MDD patients with a high risk for suicide. Moreover, MDD patients with a high risk for suicide had increased Bax and FAS mRNA expression and decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio when compared to patients without risk for suicide (p <.001). Our findings may support the role of both internal and external apoptotic pathways in the interplay between the immune system and depressive symptoms, especially in patients with a high risk for suicide.
KW - PBMCs
KW - apoptosis
KW - major depressive disorder
KW - suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045120055&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajmg.b.32623
DO - 10.1002/ajmg.b.32623
M3 - Article
C2 - 29633502
AN - SCOPUS:85045120055
VL - 177
SP - 388
EP - 396
JO - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
JF - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
SN - 1552-4841
IS - 4
ER -