2018-2019 Grant in Aid of Research
A Comparison of ISYNA and IMPA1 Gene Expression in Normal vs. Bipolar Cells and the Effects of DHA and EPA on the Expression of ISYNA and IMPA1 in Normal Cells verses Bipolar Disorder Cells
Christina S. Rosette
Bipolar Disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a manic phase and a depressive phase. Current pharmaceutical therapies for Bipolar Disorder, valproate and lithium ions, target the phosphatidylinositol 2nd messenger system and the inositol biosynthetic pathway in brain cells. However, valproate and lithium ions cause unwanted side effects. The omega-3-fatty acids decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have been shown to help reduce symptoms of the depressive phase, with little to no known side effects. It is not well understood how these omega-3 fatty acids reduce depression symptoms. However, studies conducted by {Murray, #21} indicate that omega-3 fatty acids target proteins within the inositol biosynthetic pathway - including the IMPA1 gene and possibly the ISYNA gene. The aim of this study is to compare expression of the IMPA1 and ISYNA genes and the effects of DHA and EPA on gene expression in cells obtained from normal vs. bipolar patients. IMPA1 and ISYNA, each play important roles in the synthesis of inositol. To determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on gene expression in cells obtained from normal vs. bipolar patients, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) will be used to quantify and compare the mRNA of the IMPA1 and ISYNA genes from cells obtained from normal patients and cells obtained from bipolar patients grown in the presence of DHA and EPA.