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Keywords:

11 Medical and Health Sciences, 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Psychiatry, 3202 Clinical sciences

Abstract:

Neurotransmitter signalisation in brain is dependent on biophysical and biochemical lipid membrane proprieties, in particular at the membrane synapse level. A dopamine signalling dysfunction is described in the physiopathology in patients with schizophrenia. Clinical characteristics and membrane lipid composition and distribution of chronic medicated patients with schizophrenia (n=75) have been examined and compared to a healthy control population (HC, n=40). PANSS, CGI, and GAF were measured in the SCZ population. Red blood cell (RBC) membrane lipid composition and distribution was identified by using LC-MS/MS method. The distribution between the inner and outer membrane leaflet of Lyso PE (an indicator of membrane PL turnover) was measured using trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid labelling. A significant difference was found in the Lyso PE distribution at the RBC membrane level between patients and HC. The externally located Lyso PE from patients was significantly less important in comparison to HC (25% vs 31% respectively, p=0.03). A significant (p=0.003) and specific decrease in n-3 and n-6 FA from the external Lyso PE was also found. Patients with abnormal external Lyso PE (aLyso PE) had a significant higher PANSS score in comparison with patients with external Lyso PE identical to HC (nlysoPE). Mean total PANSS score was 57 for aLyso PE (vs 42 for nLyso PE, p<0.0001). Mean PANSS positive score was 12.4 for aLyso PE (vs 9 for nLyso PE, p=0.001). No significance difference was found for PANSS negative for the two populations. In addition, patients with a significant decrease in n-3/n-6 external Lyso PE had higher psychopathology score in comparison with normal n-3/n-6 external Lyso PE. The difference was significant for all PANSS scales and sub scales. The present results are suggesting that abnormalities in the membrane lipid composition and distribution can be involved in the dopamine dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia.