Decreased expression of Fyn protein and disbalanced alternative splicing patterns in platelets from patients with schizophrenia.

Fyn, a Src-family kinase, is highly expressed in brain tissue and blood cells. In the mouse brain, Fyn participates in brain development, synaptic transmission through the phosphorylation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits, and the regulation of emotional behavior. Recently, we found that Fyn is required for the signal transduction in striatal neurons that is initiated by haloperidol, an antipsychotic drug.

Genomewide high-density SNP linkage analysis of 236 Japanese families supports the existence of schizophrenia susceptibility loci on chromosomes 1p, 14q, and 20p.

The Japanese Schizophrenia Sib-Pair Linkage Group (JSSLG) is a multisite collaborative study group that was organized to create a national resource for affected sib pair (ASP) studies of schizophrenia in Japan. We used a high-density single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay, the Illumina BeadArray linkage mapping panel (version 4) comprising 5,861 SNPs, to perform a genomewide linkage analysis of JSSLG samples comprising 236 Japanese families with 268 nonindependent ASPs with schizophrenia. All subjects were Japanese.

Identification and characterization of coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms within human protocadherin-alpha and -beta gene clusters.

The human protocadherin (Pcdh) gene clusters are located on chromosome 5q31. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the Pcdh-alpha and -beta variable exons, and in the Pcdh-alpha constant exon, in samples from 104 individuals. Among coding SNPs (cSNPs), nonsynonymous (amino acid exchange) SNPs were 2.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation induces kf-1 expression in the rat brain.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive approach used for stimulating the brain, and has proven effective in the treatment of depression, however the mechanism of its antidepressant action is unknown. Recently, we have reported the induction of kf-1 in rat frontal cortex and hippocampus after chronic antidepressant treatment and repeated electroconvulsive treatment (ECT). In this study, we demonstrated the induction of kf-1 after rTMS in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus, but not in hypothalamus.

Neurochemical investigation of the schizophrenic brain by in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Abnormal phospholipid metabolisms may play important roles in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) offers a new method for studying phosphorus-related metabolism in vivo. A decrease in the level of phosphomonoesters (PME) and an increase in the level of phosphodiesters (PDE) has been demonstrated in the prefrontal lobe of neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients.