@article{ref1,
title="Evidence for additionally increased apoptosis in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of major depressive patients with a high risk for suicide",
journal="American journal of medical genetics. part B, neuropsychiatric genetics",
year="2018",
author="Amidfar, Meysam and Kim, Yong-Ku and Scaini, Giselli and Quevedo, Joao",
volume="177",
number="4",
pages="388-396",
abstract="Several studies have suggested a pathophysiological role of blood cell apoptosis in major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MDD patients with a high risk for suicide relative to those without a high risk for suicide as well as healthy subjects. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and Fas as well as the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was examined in the PBMCs of 30 MDD patients with a high risk for suicide, 30 MDD patients without a high risk for suicide, and 30 healthy controls. The mRNA expression of target genes was measured using real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). FAS mRNA expression was significantly increased, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression and the Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio were significantly decreased, in the PBMCs of MDD patients with or without a high risk for suicide attempts compared to healthy controls (p < .001). However, Bax mRNA expression was significantly increased only in MDD patients with a high risk for suicide. Moreover, MDD patients with a high risk for suicide had increased Bax and FAS mRNA expression and decreased Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio when compared to patients without risk for suicide (p < .001). Our findings may support the role of both internal and external apoptotic pathways in the interplay between the immune system and depressive symptoms, especially in patients with a high risk for suicide.<br><br>© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1552-4841",
doi="10.1002/ajmg.b.32623",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32623"
}