Alterations of the dopamine transporter in resting lymphocytes of patients with different psychotic disorders

Psychiatry Res. 2010 Jan 30;175(1-2):54-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2009.03.009. Epub 2009 Nov 11.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate and compare the dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) in resting lymphocytes of 20 psychotic patients and 20 healthy control subjects, by means of both the binding parameters (Bmax and Kd) of 3H-WIN 35,428, and the reuptake parameters (Vmax and Km) of 3H-DA. The results showed that both the Bmax of 3H-WIN 35,428 binding and the Vmax of 3H-DA reuptake of the patients were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects, while the Kd or Km did not show any change. These findings, while indicating a reduced density of the lymphocyte DAT proteins, provide further support of the role of DA in psychoses and suggest that DA alterations may not be limited to brain structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cocaine / analogs & derivatives
  • Cocaine / pharmacokinetics
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Psychotic Disorders / classification*
  • Psychotic Disorders / pathology*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Tritium / pharmacokinetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Tritium
  • (1R-(exo,exo))-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-8-methyl-8- azabicyclo(3.2.1)octane-2-carboxylic acid, methyl ester
  • Cocaine
  • Dopamine