Decreased expression of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex of suicides.
Title | Decreased expression of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex of suicides. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Lutz P-E, Zhou Y, Labbe A, Mechawar N, Turecki G |
Journal | Eur Neuropsychopharmacol |
Volume | 25 |
Issue | 11 |
Pagination | 2008-14 |
Date Published | 2015 Nov |
ISSN | 1873-7862 |
Keywords | Adult, Female, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Opioid Peptides, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Protein Precursors, Receptors, Opioid, RNA, Messenger, Suicide, Thalamus |
Abstract | The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ)-Nociceptin Opiod-like Peptide (NOP) receptor system is a critical mediator of physiological and pathological processes involved in emotional regulation and drug addiction. As such, this system may be an important biological substrate underlying psychiatric conditions that contribute to the risk of suicide. Thus, the goal of the present study was to characterize changes in human N/OFQ and NOP signaling as a function of depression, addiction and suicide. We quantified the expression of N/OFQ and NOP by RT-PCR in the anterior insula, the mediodorsal thalamus, and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) from a large sample of individuals who died by suicide and matched psychiatrically-healthy controls. Suicides displayed an 18% decrease in the expression of N/OFQ in the dACC that was not accounted for by current depressive or substance use disorders at the time of death. Therefore, our results suggest that dysregulation of the N/OFQ-NOP system may contribute to the neurobiology of suicide, a hypothesis that warrants further exploration. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.08.015 |
Alternate Journal | Eur Neuropsychopharmacol |
PubMed ID | 26349406 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4655195 |
Grant List | MOP93775 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada 1R01DA033684-01 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States MOP119430 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada R01 DA033684 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States MOP119429 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada MOP11260 / / Canadian Institutes of Health Research / Canada |