Serotonin transporter mRNA expression in peripheral leukocytes of patients with major depression before and after treatment with paroxetine

Paroxetine and bupropion have no in vitro effects on lynphocyte proliferation and viability

“…A large number of studies reported that paroxetine had stimulating effects on peripheral leukocytes (Iga et al, 2005;Kim et al, 2004;Frank et al, 1999) whereas others showed no significant changes (Denys et al, 2006). These conflicting results could be related to differences in methodology, species studied and clinical status.…”

“…Paroxetine has produced conflicting immunological effects in cells of patients and healthy subjects. A large number of studies have demonstrated stimulating effects on peripheral leukocytes (Iga et al, 2005;Kim et al, 2004;Frank et al, 1999) whereas others found no significant changes (Denys et al, 2006). However, there are a few studies on the immunological effects in healthy subjects.…”

Consensus paper of the WFSBP Task Force on Genetics: Genetics, epigenetics and gene expression markers of major depressive disorder and antidepressant response

“…SLC6A4 expression (mRNA level) in peripheral cells (lymphocytes) was also investigated, since lymphocytes are thought to potentially act as a neural probe for studying psychiatric dis-orders (Gladkevich et al 2004). Studies on small samples of depressed patients suggested a reduction of SERT expression after antidepressant treatment (Iga et al 2005;Tsao et al 2006) with a possible positive correlation with response (Belzeaux et al 2014), but opposite findings also exist (Pena et al 2005;Belzeaux et al 2010). The reduction of SERT expression in the rat brain was associated with antidepressant-like behaviours (Thakker et al 2005) and key markers of antidepressant action: reduced expression and function of 5-HT1A-autoreceptors, elevated extracellular 5-HT in the forebrain and increased neurogenesis and expression of plasticity-related genes (BDNF, VEGF, ARC)in the hippocampus (Ferres-Coy et al 2013).…”

“…The reduction of SERT expression in the rat brain was associated with antidepressant-like behaviours (Thakker et al 2005) and key markers of antidepressant action: reduced expression and function of 5-HT1A-autoreceptors, elevated extracellular 5-HT in the forebrain and increased neurogenesis and expression of plasticity-related genes (BDNF, VEGF, ARC)in the hippocampus (Ferres-Coy et al 2013). No clear association between SLC6A4 expression and MDD risk was demonstrated, since the few studies reported either negative findings (Belzeaux et al 2010), higher expression of the gene in patients compared to controls (Iga et al 2005) or the opposite finding (Pena et al 2005).…”

Gene expression changes in normal haematopoietic cells

“…For example, characteristic "abnormal" expression signatures in hematopoietic cells have now been identified for depression, bipolar disease, and psychosis. 190 In the case of depression, drugs such as selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) decrease expression of serotonin transportors, 191 and in fact, may reverse the underlying "abnormal" expression profile in the peripheral blood. 190 Likewise, patients with bipolar disease or schizophrenia display increased transcription of dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) in peripheral lymphocytes that also reverts back to near normal levels after treatment with antipsychotic medications.…”