Genetic Expression of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 7 in Schizophrenic Patients Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Background: The ability of metabotropic glutamate receptors to modulate the neurotransmission of glutamate has attracted great attention for its role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and also for its potential ability to be a target for the development of novel antipsychotics. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 has a wide expression in the cortex, hippocampus, and other forebrain regions. It has an important role in short-term plasticity and multiple learning processes. Exploring the molecular changes and cellular genetic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 gene is an essential step to know more about its real functioning in patients presenting with schizophrenia Aim: Measuring the genetic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 in patients presenting with schizophrenia and comparing it in healthy controls. Methods: Modeling of schizophrenia through human induced pleuripotent stem cells (hIPSc) through reprogramming of fibroblasts into pluripotent stem cells followed by neuronal differentiation. Real time Polymerase chain reaction was used for measurement of genetic expression. Results: There were lower means of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 gene expression in the patients group (0.843) than the control group (1.051) but with no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.241). Conclusion: There was no significant alteration of the genetic expression of metaboptric glutamate receptor in schizophrenic patients. However, further studies are needed with larger samples to verify its role in pathophysiology of schizophrenia.