TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence of alterations of Beta-endorphin levels and Mu-opioid receptor gene expression in bipolar disorder
AU - Escelsior, Andrea
AU - Sterlini, Bruno
AU - Tardito, Samuele
AU - Altosole, Tiziana
AU - Magioncalda, Paola
AU - Martino, Matteo
AU - Serafini, Gianluca
AU - Murri, Martino Belveri
AU - Aguglia, Andrea
AU - Amerio, Andrea
AU - da Silva, Beatriz Pereira
AU - Trabucco, Alice
AU - Fenoglio, Daniela
AU - Filaci, Gilberto
AU - Amore, Mario
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was developed within the framework of the DINOGMI, Department of Excellence of MIUR 2018–2022 (law 232; 2016). P.M. received support from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (109–2314-B-038–138-MY2). MM received support from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (109–2314-B-038–139-MY2) and from Taipei Medical University (TMU108-AE1-B56). The authors wish to thank Dr. Francesca Trampetti for her helpful suggestions.
Funding Information:
P.M. received support from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology ( 109–2314-B-038–138-MY2 ). MM received support from the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology ( 109–2314-B-038–139-MY2 ) and from Taipei Medical University ( TMU108-AE1-B56 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Despite the well-recognized effects of endogenous opioids on mood and behavior, research on its role in bipolar disorder (BD) is still limited to small or anecdotal reports. Considering that Beta-endorphins (β-END) and Mu-opioid receptors (MOR), in particular, have a crucial activity in affective modulation, we hypothesized their alteration in BD. A cross-sectional study was conducted. We compared: (1) BD type I (BD-I) patients (n = 50) vs healthy controls (n = 27), (2) two BD-I subject subgroups: manic (MAN; n = 25) vs depressed (DEP; n = 25) subjects. Plasma levels of β-END and MOR gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed using ELISA Immunoassay qRT-PCR. We found that subjects with BD exhibited a significant upregulation of MOR gene expression and a decrease of β-END (p<0.0001 for both). MAN display higher MOR levels than DEP (p<0.001) and HC (p<0.0001). Plasma levels of β-END were lower in DEP compared to MAN (p<0.05) and HC (p<0.0001). The main limitations are the cross-sectional design and the lack of a group of euthymic subjects. Although preliminary, our results suggest a dysregulation of the endogenous opioid systems in BD. In particular, both MAN and DEP showed a reduction of β-END levels, whereas MAN was associated with MOR gene overexpression.
AB - Despite the well-recognized effects of endogenous opioids on mood and behavior, research on its role in bipolar disorder (BD) is still limited to small or anecdotal reports. Considering that Beta-endorphins (β-END) and Mu-opioid receptors (MOR), in particular, have a crucial activity in affective modulation, we hypothesized their alteration in BD. A cross-sectional study was conducted. We compared: (1) BD type I (BD-I) patients (n = 50) vs healthy controls (n = 27), (2) two BD-I subject subgroups: manic (MAN; n = 25) vs depressed (DEP; n = 25) subjects. Plasma levels of β-END and MOR gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed using ELISA Immunoassay qRT-PCR. We found that subjects with BD exhibited a significant upregulation of MOR gene expression and a decrease of β-END (p<0.0001 for both). MAN display higher MOR levels than DEP (p<0.001) and HC (p<0.0001). Plasma levels of β-END were lower in DEP compared to MAN (p<0.05) and HC (p<0.0001). The main limitations are the cross-sectional design and the lack of a group of euthymic subjects. Although preliminary, our results suggest a dysregulation of the endogenous opioid systems in BD. In particular, both MAN and DEP showed a reduction of β-END levels, whereas MAN was associated with MOR gene overexpression.
KW - Beta-endorphin
KW - Bipolar affective disorder
KW - Endogenous opioid system
KW - Mu-opioid receptor
KW - Psychiatric disorders
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U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114787
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114787
M3 - Article
C2 - 35988328
AN - SCOPUS:85136104513
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 316
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 114787
ER -
