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- Bjerkenstedt, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Support for limited brain availability of tyrosine in patients with schizophrenia
- 2006
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Ingår i: International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. - 1461-1457 .- 1469-5111. ; 9, s. 247-255
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several mechanisms have been suggested to account for altered dopaminergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia. The brain is the only organ for which amino-acid transport is limited and competition for transport over the blood-brain barrier (BBB) occurs at physiological plasma concentrations. One line of research suggests that patients with schizophrenia have altered brain levels of the essential amino acid tyrosine, the precursor for the synthesis of dopamine. The most common hypothesis is that less tyrosine is available because of competition with elevated levels of other amino acids. By consequence, the synthesis of dopamine in the brain will decrease. In contrast, another line of evidence suggests a change in the affinity for one of the transport proteins. A limitation of this research has been that the systems for amino-acid transport across the BBB have not been fully characterized at a molecular or functional level. The L system is the major system for transport of tyrosine across cell membranes including the BBB. The A system is also involved in this transport. Earlier in-vitro studies using fibroblasts have demonstrated a normal L system in schizophrenia but nevertheless reduced tyrosine transport. The combination of molecular research, fibroblast techniques, and brain imaging provides a new basis for clinical research on the role of amino-acid membrane transport in schizophrenia.
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| 2. |
- Fernell, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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Aberrant amino acid transport in fibroblasts from children with autism
- 2007
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Ingår i: Neuroscience Letters. - Amsterdam : Elsevier. - 0304-3940 .- 1872-7972. ; 418:1, s. 82-86
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Autism is a developmental, cognitive disorder clinically characterized by impaired social interaction, communication and restricted behaviours. The present study was designed to explore whether an abnormality in transport of tyrosine and/or alanine is present in children with autism. Skin biopsies were obtained from 11 children with autism (9 boys and 2 girls) fulfilling the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder and 11 healthy male control children. Transport of amino acids tyrosine and alanine across the cell membrane of cultured fibroblasts was studied by the cluster tray method. The maximal transport capacity, Vmax and the affinity constant of the amino acid binding sites, Km, were determined. Significantly increased Vmax for alanine (p = 0.014) and increased Km for tyrosine (p = 0.007) were found in children with autism. The increased transport capacity of alanine across the cell membrane and decreased affinity for transport sites of tyrosine indicates the involvement of two major amino acid transport systems (L- and A-system) in children with autism. This may influence the transport of several other amino acids across the blood–brain-barrier. The significance of the findings has to be further explored. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
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