Correlation of IGF-I and IGFBP5 Gene Expression in Schizophrenia Patients

Objective: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder affecting more than 21 million people worldwide. Disruptions of the GH-IGF-I axis likely lead to schizophrenia by causing deficits in early stages of neurodevelopment and low IGF-I levels are related to pre/postnatal growth and schizophrenia. IGF axis has effective role on healthy cell growth both prenatal and postnatal. IGF-I function effecting cancer cells is regulated by IGFBP-5. Several studies showed that IGF-I expression is low in schizophrenia patients. Aim of this study is to investigate relation of IGF-I and IGFBP-5 mRNA expression levels in Schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: Fırstly, we collected the serum samples from patients who are diagnosed with schizophrenia and healthy control group. Then RNA was isolated from these serum samples. RNA expression was investigated by real time PCR. Results were evaluated using delta delta Ct. In this study IGF-I and IGFBP5 gene expression levels were calculated. For this purpose a portion of serum taken for routine tests was used. Results: Results of this study showed that there is no significant difference of IGF-I and IGFBP5 gene expression levels between patients and healthy subjects. On the other hand an important negative correlation between IGFBP5 expression level and age was found (p<0,05). Beside that there was not any association between PANNS points and gene expression levels. Conclusion: Consequently, relation of PANSS and gene expressions was not significant. Otherwise IGFBP5 and IGF-I mRNA expression levels had not an important relation for schizophrenia patients.