mRNA and protein expression for novel GABAA receptors θ and ρ2 are altered in schizophrenia and mood disorders; relevance to FMRP-mGluR5 signaling pathway

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an RNA-binding protein that targets similar to 5% of all mRNAs expressed in the brain. Previous work by our laboratory demonstrated significantly lower protein levels for FMRP in lateral cerebella of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression when compared with controls. Absence of FMRP expression in animal models of fragile X syndrome (FXS) has been shown to reduce expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA(A)) receptor mRNAs. Previous work by our laboratory has found reduced expression of FMRP, as well as multiple GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor subunits in subjects with autism. Less is known about levels for GABA(A) subunit protein expression in brains of subjects with schizophrenia and mood disorders. In the current study, we have expanded our previous studies to examine the protein and mRNA expression of two novel GABA(A) receptors, theta (GABR theta) and rho 2 (GABR rho 2) as well as FMRP, and metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in lateral cerebella of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and healthy controls, and in superior frontal cortex (Brodmann Area 9 (BA9)) of subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy controls. We observed multiple statistically significant mRNA and protein changes in levels of GABR theta, GABR rho 2, mGluR5 and FMRP molecules including concordant reductions in mRNA and proteins for GABR theta and mGluR5 in lateral cerebella of subjects with schizophrenia; for increased mRNA and protein for GABR rho 2 in lateral cerebella of subjects with bipolar disorder; and for reduced mRNA and protein for mGluR5 in BA9 of subjects with bipolar disorder. There were no significant effects of confounds on any of the results.