Belzeaux Raoul, Loundou Anderson, Azorin Jean-Michel, Naudin Jean, Ibrahim El Chérif
Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, Marseille, France.
Neuropsychobiology. 2014;70(4):220-7. doi: 10.1159/000368120. Epub 2015 Jan 9.
Mood disorders are frequently characterized by uncertain prognosis and studying mRNA expression variations in blood cells represents a promising avenue of identifying biomarkers for mood disorders. State-dependent gene expression variations have been described during a major depressive episode (MDE), in particular for SLC6A4 mRNA, but how this transcript varies in relation to MDE evolution remains unclear. In this study, we prospectively assessed time trends of SCL6A4 mRNA expression in responder and nonresponder patients.
We examined SLC6A4 mRNA expression in blood samples from 13 patients treated for severe MDE and their matched controls by reverse transcription and quantitative PCR. All subjects were followed for 30 weeks. Patients were classified as either responders or nonresponders based on improvement of depression according to the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Using a longitudinal design, we ascertained mRNA expression at baseline, 2, 8, and 30 weeks and compared mRNA expression between responder and nonresponder patients, and matched controls.
We observed a decrease of SLC6A4 mRNA expression in responder patients across a 30-week follow-up, while nonresponder patients exhibited up-regulated SLC6A4 mRNA.
Peripheral SLC6A4 mRNA expression could serve as a biomarker for monitoring and follow-up during an MDE and may help to more appropriately select individualized treatments.
情绪障碍通常具有预后不确定的特点，研究血细胞中的mRNA表达变化是识别情绪障碍生物标志物的一个有前景的途径。在重度抑郁发作（MDE）期间，尤其是SLC6A4 mRNA，已经描述了状态依赖性基因表达变化，但该转录本如何随MDE的演变而变化仍不清楚。在本研究中，我们前瞻性地评估了反应者和无反应者患者中SCL6A4 mRNA表达的时间趋势。
我们通过逆转录和定量PCR检测了13例接受重度MDE治疗的患者及其匹配对照的血液样本中SLC6A4 mRNA的表达。所有受试者随访30周。根据17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表的抑郁改善情况，将患者分为反应者或无反应者。采用纵向设计，我们确定了基线、2周、8周和30周时的mRNA表达，并比较了反应者和无反应者患者以及匹配对照之间的mRNA表达。
在30周的随访中，我们观察到反应者患者的SLC6A4 mRNA表达下降，而无反应者患者的SLC6A4 mRNA上调。
外周SLC6A4 mRNA表达可作为MDE期间监测和随访的生物标志物，并可能有助于更恰当地选择个体化治疗。
