Microarray Analysis of Human Blood During Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Authors :: Kaneko T
Kanazawa T
Nishiguchi M
Kikuyama H
Tsutsumi A
Uenishi H
Kawabata Y
Kawashige S
Nishizawa Y
Maruyama S
Koh J
Yoneda H
Source :: The journal of ECT [J ECT] 2015 Dec; Vol. 31 (4), pp. 234-7.
Publication Year :: 2015
Abstract: Introduction: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is currently regarded as a significant treatment option for intractable psychiatric disorders, such as catatonic schizophrenia or treatment-resistant depression; however, the underlying molecular mechanism for its therapeutic effect remains obscure.<br />Methods: Employing microarray analysis (Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array; Affymetrix, United States) of cDNA derived from the peripheral blood of patients with catatonic schizophrenia (n = 5), we detected a significant change in 145 genes (0.68%) before and after modified ECT (mECT). Moreover, we performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of genes that had previously been suggested to be functionally related to schizophrenia.<br />Results: Of 4 genes examined (AKT3, TCF7, PPP3R1, and GADD45B), only TCF7 was increased during the mECT procedure (P = 0.0025).<br />Discussion: This study describes the first attempt to uncover the molecular mechanism of mECT using a microarray assay of mRNA derived from peripheral blood, and our results suggest that the TCF family may play a role in the functional mechanism of mECT.