Genes Encoding Erythropoietin and Its Receptor in Bipolar I (Manic Phase) Patients as a Novel Diagnostic Agent: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

According to several new cumulative evidences, erythropoietin can be a possibility for investigation as a different therapeutic agent in neuropsychiatric diseases. This is as a result of its key role in neurotrophic effects. In order to understand the association, the gene expressions of EPO and EPO-R with bipolar mood disorder in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of some patients with bipolar I disorder in manic episode, were evaluated. In a case-control study, 22 patients with bipolar I disorder (single manic episode) and 22 healthy individuals were enrolled. All participants were above 15 years of age who were referred to Farshchian Hospital, Hamadan, Iran. They were diagnosed with bipolar type 1 in manic episode by a psychiatrist using DSM-IV-TR criteria and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) in order to determine the severity of mania. The expressions of EPO and EPO-R genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were evaluated using Real-time RT-PCR analysis. The results showed a reduction in the gene expression of EPO (89.6%) and an increase in EPO-R (77.06%) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of the patients compared to the healthy controls. According to student paired samples T-test, there was statistically significant difference for each gene (p-value <0.001). This study shows that in patients with bipolar I mood disorders in manic episode, the expression of EPO and EPO-R gene can be employed in elucidating the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder.