Change in platelet GTP-Binding protein in drug-free depressed patients

✍ Scribed by Félicien Karege; Philippe Bovier; Renata Stepanian; Jean-Michel Gaillard

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 808 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6222
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199603)11:2<115::aid-hup762>3.0.co;2-b

✦ Synopsis

In order to examine the status of cell signal transduction in depression, we measured in the same subjects both the platelet guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) levels and G protein function in drug-free depressed patients. G protein levels were measured thanks to the method of Western immunoblot of three G protein subunits, i.e. Gai2; Gaq and GP. The G protein function was assessed by the method of GTPyS binding through platelet a2-adrenoceptor stimulation. The results showed an increase in immunoreactivity of the three G proteins in major depressed patients. The study of GTPyS binding on platelet membrane showed a significant decrease in drug-free depressed patients with respect to age-and gender-matched controls. These data suggest that uncoupling of a2-adrenoceptor from G proteins, whose levels were increased, may be found in depression.