ABSTRACT
Objective Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) signaling pathway related genes mRNA expression and promoter methylation of GABRB2 gene in peripheral blood were investigated to explore the mechanisms involved in schizophrenia (SZ) and antipsychotics treatment. Methods DNA was isolated from blood samples of 53 SZ patients and 53 gender-and age-matched healthy controls. 12 out of 25 SZ patients were followed 8 weeks antipsychotic treatment. The quantitative GABRB2 promoter methylation was analyzed using the high-throughput mass spectrometry on matrix-as?sisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass array before and after treatment. Results The GA?BRB2 promoter methylation pattern of case and control group was not significantly different (P>0.05). However, signifi?cant differences of the methylation levels of CpG_28 in the GABRB2 promoter between two groups were found in males [(0.215±0.084) vs. (0.264±0.103), P<0.05]. After 8 weeks antipsychotics treatment, a significant decrease of GABRB2 pro?moter methylatin was detected in the patients [(0.088±0.037) vs. (0.121±0.063), P<0.01]. Conclusion A down regulation of GABRB2 promoter methylation in blood of SZ patients after-treatment supports that GABRB2 promoter methylation in blood may be associated with the mechanisms of antipsychotics treatment in SZ.