| Abstract |
Repetin (RPTN) protein is a member of S100 family and is known to be expressed in the normal epidermis. Here we show thatRPTNis ubiquitously expressed in both mouse and human brain, with relatively high levels in choroid plexus, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To investigate the expression ofRPTNin neuropsychiatric disorders, we determined serum levels ofRPTNin patients withschizophrenia(n = 88) or bipolar disorder (n = 34) and in chronic psychostimulant users (n = 91). We also studied its expression in a mouse model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The results showed that serumRPTNlevels were significantly diminished in patients withschizophreniaand bipolar disorder or in psychostimulant users, compared with healthy subjects (n = 115) or age-matched controls (n = 92) (p < 0.0001). In CUMS mice,RPTNexpression in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex was reduced with progression of the CUMS procedure; the serumRPTNlevel remained unchanged. Since CUMS is a model for depression and methamphetamine (METH) abuse induced psychosis recapitulates many of the psychotic symptoms ofschizophrenia,这项研究结果可能暗示RPTNplays a potential role in emotional and cognitive processing; its decrease in serum may indicate its involvement in the pathogenesis ofschizophreniaand bipolar disorder. |