Further evidence for altered myelin biosynthesis and glutamatergic dysfunction in schizophrenia

Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2007 Aug;10(4):557-63. doi: 10.1017/S1461145706007334. Epub 2007 Feb 12.

Abstract

Recent studies have provided evidence for neuronal and oligodendrocyte-related abnormalities being associated with schizophrenia. However, the functional interplay and causal relationship between these two abnormalities is poorly understood. In this report, we provide data that identify myelin and fatty-acid biosynthesis dysfunction in schizophrenia based on post-mortem brain studies (prefrontal cortex) utilizing parallel metabolic and transcriptomics investigations. We detected a significant up-regulation of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) by HPLC analysis. Microarray and Q-PCR investigations revealed mRNA abnormalities for several enzymes involved in NAA metabolism. Additionally, glutamatergic neurotransmission components were also found to be affected. Our results suggest that, apart from the previously reported alterations in myelin-related protein synthesis, myelin synthesis itself may be directly affected in schizophrenia as indicated by changes in key enzymes involved in NAA metabolism. A decrease in NAA catabolism in oligodendrocytes would severely reduce acetate levels required to produce myelin lipids and may subsequently affect glutamatergic neurotransmission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amidohydrolases / genetics
  • Amidohydrolases / metabolism
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Aspartic Acid / metabolism
  • Cadaver
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / genetics
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II / metabolism
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelin Sheath / metabolism*
  • Myelin Sheath / pathology
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism*
  • Oligodendroglia / pathology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / pathology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiopathology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / genetics
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / genetics
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism*
  • Schizophrenia / pathology
  • Schizophrenia / physiopathology
  • Synaptic Transmission*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor 3
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glutamic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II
  • Amidohydrolases
  • aspartoacylase