Comparative Expression Analysis of Genes Encoding Neurotransmitter Receptors Between Entrepreneurs and Non-Entrepreneurs

Introduction and Purpose: Recent studies revealed that different behavioral and physiological processes are closely related to different receptor levels in humans. On the other hand, there weren’t any studies that investigated neurotransmitter activity and entrepreneurship relationships. Little is known about how genes expressed in the blood are associated with entrepreneurship. In this study, we measured the expression of 84 genes encoding neurotransmitter receptors between the entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs (n=25) using RT-PCR arrays to monitor differentially expressed genes for exploring molecular mechanism behind the entrepreneurship mindset. Materials and Methods: After determining whether participants are entrepreneurs or not, blood samples were collected. Blood samples were collected in Vacutainer® EDTA tubes as 10 ml and RNA isolation was performed at the Erzurum Technical University, Cell Culture Laboratory. Trizol® solution for RNA isolation (Thermo®, USA) was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. Concentrations of RNA samples were measured at 260 nm using a spectrophotometer (Epoch®, Biotek). Then, total RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA by using High-Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Thermo®). Total 84 genes were analyzed via RT² Profiler™ Human Neurotransmitter Receptors PCR Array (Qiagen®, USA) in Rotor-Gene Q real-time PCR cycler (Qiagen®, USA). Findings: The gene expression results obtained from RT-PCR were compared between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, and presented as Fold Changes (FC). According to our results, positive FC values indicated an increase in the expression of the genes and negative FC values indicated decrease in gene expression levels in entrepreneurs. Results: These 84 different genes regulate neurotransmitter biosynthesis, uptake, transport, and signaling via neurotransmitter receptors. According to gene expression analyses, gene expressions that could be related to the entrepreneur behavior might be connected to not only undesired psychological outcomes like various addictions and also neurological cases such as schizophrenia and depressive disorder. Our results firstly indicated that entrepreneurship was not only associated with neurotransmitter release but also with receptor levels. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs, Genes, Neurotransmitter Receptors, RT-PCR Array

Comparative Expression Analysis of Genes Encoding Neurotransmitter Receptors Between Entrepreneurs and Non-Entrepreneurs

Introduction and Purpose: Recent studies revealed that different behavioral and physiological processes are closely related to different receptor levels in humans. On the other hand, there weren’t any studies that investigated neurotransmitter activity and entrepreneurship relationships. Little is known about how genes expressed in the blood are associated with entrepreneurship. In this study, we measured the expression of 84 genes encoding neurotransmitter receptors between the entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs (n=25) using RT-PCR arrays to monitor differentially expressed genes for exploring molecular mechanism behind the entrepreneurship mindset. Materials and Methods: After determining whether participants are entrepreneurs or not, blood samples were collected. Blood samples were collected in Vacutainer® EDTA tubes as 10 ml and RNA isolation was performed at the Erzurum Technical University, Cell Culture Laboratory. Trizol® solution for RNA isolation (Thermo®, USA) was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions. Concentrations of RNA samples were measured at 260 nm using a spectrophotometer (Epoch®, Biotek). Then, total RNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA by using High-Capacity cDNA Reverse Transcription Kit (Thermo®). Total 84 genes were analyzed via RT² Profiler™ Human Neurotransmitter Receptors PCR Array (Qiagen®, USA) in Rotor-Gene Q real-time PCR cycler (Qiagen®, USA). Findings: The gene expression results obtained from RT-PCR were compared between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, and presented as Fold Changes (FC). According to our results, positive FC values indicated an increase in the expression of the genes and negative FC values indicated decrease in gene expression levels in entrepreneurs. Results: These 84 different genes regulate neurotransmitter biosynthesis, uptake, transport, and signaling via neurotransmitter receptors. According to gene expression analyses, gene expressions that could be related to the entrepreneur behavior might be connected to not only undesired psychological outcomes like various addictions and also neurological cases such as schizophrenia and depressive disorder. Our results firstly indicated that entrepreneurship was not only associated with neurotransmitter release but also with receptor levels. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs, Genes, Neurotransmitter Receptors, RT-PCR Array

Selegiline alleviates the depressive-like behaviors of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome through modulating mitochondrial function and energy hemostasis

Background: Methamphetamine (METH) is considered the second most commonly abused drug in the world. There is limited or no evidence concerning the effective treatment of METH withdrawal symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. Mode of action of selegiline (increase of the brain neurotransmitter activity) suggests that it might be useful in METH withdrawal syndrome treatment, being capable of diminishing the preference and depression involved in drug degeneration and addictive activities. Methods: Mice were randomly divided into 10 groups (n= 10): five METH-nondependent groups treated with normal saline intraperitoneal (i.p) for two weeks, to which, from the 15th day, selegiline (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg; i.p) or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg; i.p) was administrated for 10 consecutive days. Other groups injected METH (2 mg/kg, at 12-h intervals) for 14 days. From the 15th day, the 10-day period of METH abstinence started and the above-mentioned doses of selegiline or fluoxetine were injected. Then, the mice were evaluated for depression and biochemical assessments from the 25th day of the study. Results: Our data indicated that post-treatment with selegiline (10-40 mg/kg; i.p) for 10 days reversed METH-induced depressive-like behaviors in the forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and splash test with exerting no effects on the locomotor activity. Furthermore, none of the previously proposed treatments affected the behavioral abnormality in the control animals. Moreover, both selegiline and fluoxetine as standard antidepressant drug, substantially improved the levels of mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that selegiline produced antidepressant-like effects following METH withdrawal and prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction in the male mice.

Immunoreactivity of Muscarinic Acetylcholine M2 and Serotonin 5-HT2B Receptors, Norepinephrine Transporter and Kir Channels in a Model of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is characterized by an imbalance in neurotransmitter activity; an increased excitatory to an inhibitory activity. Acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin, and norepinephrine (NE) may modulate neural activity via several mechanisms, mainly through its receptors/transporter activity and alterations in the extracellular potassium (K+) concentration via K+ ion channels. Seizures may disrupt the regulation of inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels and alter the receptor/transporter activity. However, there are limited data present on the immunoreactivity pattern of these neurotransmitter receptors/transporters and K+ channels in chronic models of epilepsy, which therefore was the aim of this study. Changes in the immunoreactivity of epileptogenesis-related neurotransmitter receptors/transporters (M2, 5-HT2B, and NE transporter) as well as Kir channels (Kir3.1 and Kir6.2) were determined in the cortex, hippocampus and medulla of adult Wistar rats by utilizing a Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindling chronic epilepsy model. Increased immunoreactivity of the NE transporter, M2, and 5-HT2B receptors was witnessed in the cortex and medulla. While the immunoreactivity of the 5-HT2B receptor was found increased in the cortex and medulla, it was decreased in the hippocampus, with no changes observed in the M2 receptor in this region. Kir3.1 and Kir6.2 staining showed increase immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex, but channel contrasting findings in the hippocampus and medulla. Our results suggest that seizure kindling may result in significant changes in the neurotransmitter system which may contribute or propagate to future epileptogenesis, brain damage and potentially towards sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Further studies on the pathogenic role of these changes in neurotransmitter receptors/transporters and K+ channel immunoreactivity may identify newer possible targets to treat seizures or prevent epilepsy-related comorbidities.

The Feasibility of Using Probiotics to Treat Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. It refers to a kind of mood disorder with significant and lasting depression as the main clinical symptoms caused by various reasons. Its core symptoms are depression, loss of interest, lack of energy, often accompanied by physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms and so on. Serious patients have the risk of self injury and suicide. Most drug treatments focus on changing neurotransmitter activity in the brain, and Probiotics are a kind of active microorganisms which are beneficial to the host. They are colonized in the human intestinal tract and reproductive system and can produce exact health effects, thus improving the balance of the host's microecology and playing a beneficial role. Ingestion of certain probiotics seems to be a potential treatment for depression.

Antipsychotic Drugs Attenuate Interleukin-6 Secretion by Microglia Via Dopamine Inhibition

Background: Antipsychotic drugs are commonly used for various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Their mechanism of action is thought to be by modulation of neurotransmitter activity in the brain, mainly dopamine. It has been suggested that antipsychotic drugs may also exert anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to examine whether the modulating effect of antipsychotic drugs on neurotransmitters attenuates the inflammatory response of microglia cells. Methods: Levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured following activation of microglia cultures with lipopolysaccharides and treatment with antipsychotic drugs (risperidone, haloperidol, and clozapine), neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine), or a combination of dopamine and either haloperidol or clozapine. Results: Haloperidol and clozapine decreased IL-6 secretion by microglia cells when treated at a concentration of 10-5M. Interestingly, dopamine at a concentration of 1 μM increased IL-6 secretion by the microglia cells, while a concentration of 100 μM decreased it. The combination of dopamine (from 0.001 μM to 100 μM) with either haloperidol (10-5M or 10-8M) or clozapine (10-5M or 10-7M) attenuated IL-6 secretion in a bell-shaped curve with a peak at 1 μM. High concentrations of both haloperidol and clozapine decreased IL-6 secretion, while low concentrations modestly increased IL-6 levels. Conclusions: Our findings support anti-inflammatory properties of antipsychotic drugs, and suggest that their action is mediated via the inhibition of dopaminergic activity in microglia cells. The bell-shaped curve of IL-6 secretion by microglia might suggest the presence of an “optimal zone” of operation for these cells that is mediated by dopamine.