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Lin C, Zhang S, Yang P, Zhang B, Guo W, Wu R, Liu Y, Wang J, Wu H, Cai H. Combination of UGT1A1 polymorphism and baseline plasma bilirubin levels in predicting the risk of antipsychotic-induced dyslipidemia in schizophrenia patients. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 10:52. [PMID: 38760414 PMCID: PMC11101411 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-024-00473-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The prolonged usage of atypical antipsychotic drugs (AAPD) among individuals with schizophrenia often leads to metabolic side effects such as dyslipidemia. These effects not only limit one's selection of AAPD but also significantly reduce compliance and quality of life of patients. Recent studies suggest that bilirubin plays a crucial role in maintaining lipid homeostasis and may be a potential pre-treatment biomarker for individuals with dyslipidemia. The present study included 644 schizophrenia patients from two centers. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected at baseline and 4 weeks after admission to investigate the correlation between metabolites, episodes, usage of AAPDs, and occurrence of dyslipidemia. Besides, we explored the combined predictive value of genotypes and baseline bilirubin for dyslipidemia by employing multiple PCR targeted capture techniques to sequence two pathways: bilirubin metabolism-related genes and lipid metabolism-related genes. Our results indicated that there existed a negative correlation between the changes in bilirubin levels and triglyceride (TG) levels in patients with schizophrenia. Among three types of bilirubin, direct bilirubin in the baseline (DBIL-bl) proved to be the most effective in predicting dyslipidemia in the ROC analysis (AUC = 0.627, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the odds ratio from multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that UGT1A1*6 was a protective factor for dyslipidemia (ß = -12.868, p < 0.001). The combination of baseline DBIL and UGT1A1*6 significantly improved the performance in predicting dyslipidemia (AUC = 0.939, p < 0.001). Schizophrenia patients with UGT1A1*6 mutation and a certain level of baseline bilirubin may be more resistant to dyslipidemia and have more selections for AAPD than other patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenquan Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuangyang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Hunan Brain Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Bikui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
- International Research Center for Precision Medicine, Transformative Technology and Software Services, Hunan, China
| | - Wenbin Guo
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Renrong Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Jianjian Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Haishan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China
| | - Hualin Cai
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- International Research Center for Precision Medicine, Transformative Technology and Software Services, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, China.
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Dirican E, Özcan H, Uzunçakmak SK, Takım U. Evaluation Expression of the Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 Apoptotic Genes in Schizophrenia Patients. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN COLLEGE OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 21:171-178. [PMID: 36700323 PMCID: PMC9889905 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2023.21.1.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objective Apoptosis is programmed cell death that occurs by several pathways. Caspase-3 is induced by active caspase-9 via the intrinsic pathway. The aim of this research was to explore the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in schizophrenia patients and healthy samples. Methods RNA was isolated from the peripheral blood of 39 schizophrenia patients' and healthy samples. After cDNA synthesis, real time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to analyse caspase-3 and caspase-9 gene expression. The severity of psychopathological symptoms of schizophrenia was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale for schizophrenia (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI). Results The expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 genes was higher in schizophrenia patients than in healthy samples (p = 0.012, p = 0.002, respectively). The increase in caspase-3 gene expression was significant with being male, smoking and with a duration of less than 6 years (p = 0.047, p = 0.049, p = 0.034, respectively). On the other hand, the increase in caspase-9 gene expression was significant in patients who is smoke, have children, and are under 33 years old (p = 0.040, p = 0.043, p = 0.045, respectively). A significant positive correlation was detected between the caspase-3 and caspase-9 gene expression (r = 0.3218, p = 0.049). Conclusion Our findings indicate that caspase-3 and caspase-9 gene expression may activate cell death mechanisms by intrinsic apoptotic genes. Furthermore, caspase-3 and caspase-9 may play essential roles in different ways in schizophrenia. Hence there is a need to further study the apoptotic mechanism with expanded patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebubekir Dirican
- Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Bayburt, Turkey,Address for correspondence: Ebubekir Dirican Health Services Vocational School, Bayburt University, Dede Korkut Campus, Bayburt 69000, Turkey, E-mail: , ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9260-5223
| | - Halil Özcan
- Department of Mental Health and Related Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | | | - Uğur Takım
- Department of Mental Health and Related Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Hu L, Zhou BY, Yang CP, Lu DY, Tao YC, Chen L, Zhang L, Su JH, Huang Y, Song NN, Chen JY, Zhao L, Chen Y, He CH, Wang YB, Lang B, Ding YQ. Deletion of Schizophrenia Susceptibility Gene Ulk4 Leads to Abnormal Cognitive Behaviors via Akt-GSK-3 Signaling Pathway in Mice. Schizophr Bull 2022; 48:804-813. [PMID: 35522199 PMCID: PMC9212110 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbac040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite of strenuous research in the past decades, the etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) still remains incredibly controversial. Previous genetic analysis has uncovered a close association of Unc-51 like kinase 4 (ULK4), a family member of Unc-51-like serine/threonine kinase, with SCZ. However, animal behavior data which may connect Ulk4 deficiency with psychiatric disorders, particularly SCZ are still missing. METHODS We generated Emx1-Cre:Ulk4flox/flox conditional knockout (CKO) mice, in which Ulk4 was deleted in the excitatory neurons of cerebral cortex and hippocampus. RESULTS The cerebral cellular architecture was maintained but the spine density of pyramidal neurons was reduced in Ulk4 CKO mice. CKO mice showed deficits in the spatial and working memories and sensorimotor gating. Levels of p-Akt and p-GSK-3α/β were markedly reduced in the CKO mice indicating an elevation of GSK-3 signaling. Mechanistically, Ulk4 may regulate the GSK-3 signaling via putative protein complex comprising of two phosphatases, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and 1α (PP1α). Indeed, the reduction of p-Akt and p-GSK-3α/β was rescued by administration of inhibitor acting on PP2A and PP1α in CKO mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data identified potential downstream signaling pathway of Ulk4, which plays important roles in the cognitive functions and when defective, may promote SCZ-like pathogenesis and behavioral phenotypes in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cui-Ping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da-Yun Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun-Chao Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Hui Su
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning-Ning Song
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Yin Chen
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Hui He
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmias, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Centre for Mental Health, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ding
- To whom correspondence should be addressed; Shanghai 200032, China; tel: +86 021 5423 7169, e-mail:
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Luo S, Zheng N, Lang B. ULK4 in Neurodevelopmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:873706. [PMID: 35493088 PMCID: PMC9039724 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.873706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene Unc51-like kinase 4 (ULK4) belongs to the Unc-51-like serine/threonine kinase family and is assumed to encode a pseudokinase with unclear function. Recently, emerging evidence has suggested that ULK4 may be etiologically involved in a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, but the underlying mechanism remains unaddressed. Here, we summarize the key findings of the structure and function of the ULK4 protein to provide comprehensive insights to better understand ULK4-related neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders and to aid in the development of a ULK4-based therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilin Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, China
| | - Nanxi Zheng
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Nanxi Zheng, ; Bing Lang,
| | - Bing Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Nanxi Zheng, ; Bing Lang,
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Luo W, Yang J. Schizophrenia predisposition gene Unc-51-like kinase 4 for the improvement of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:2933-2943. [PMID: 35083612 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-07108-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) has complex pathogenesis, and inhibiting apoptosis and supporting neural progenitor proliferation are extremely beneficial strategies for treating CIRI. Unc-51-like kinase 4 (ULK4), a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia, promotes neural progenitors proliferation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in CIRI via inhibition of apoptosis. Therefore, the relationship among ULK4, the PI3K pathway, and apoptosis in the context of CIRI has attracted our great interest. METHODS AND RESULTS Primary cortical neurons were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), and rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). Transfection of the ULK4-overexpression lentivirus was performed alone or in combination with PI3K inhibitor treatment. Here, we revealed that ULK4 was poorly expressed in the cortex in MCAO/R rats and OGD/R-treated primary cortical neurons, ULK4 overexpression inhibited apoptosis, and reduced neurological deficit scores, cerebral infarct volume, and histopathological damage. Moreover, ULK4 overexpression increased PI3K expression and the p-protein kinase B/AKT and p-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β)/GSK3β ratios, and inhibited apoptosis, while a PI3K inhibitor reversed the effects of ULK4 overexpression on CIRI. CONCLUSIONS ULK4 protects against CIRI, and the underlying mechanism involves PI3K pathway activation which in turn inhibits apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Luo
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Mianyang/Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, 621000, China
| | - Junqing Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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