Arvin Haghighatfard - Department of biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Schizophrenia is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder that affects about 1% of the population worldwide. Symptoms of schizophrenia including positive, negative and cognitive deficits. The hypothesis that dopaminergic mechanisms play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been one of the most accepted ideas about the disease. The mitochondrial complexes subunits functions also may play a role. We studied expression levels of mitochondrial complex I75-kDa subunit mRNA (NDUFS1 gene) in whole blood of Iranian schizophrenic patients and controls.The study was approved by the local ethics committee. A total of 100 patients with acute schizophrenia were enrolled (mean age 27 ± 3.3 years) and 100 healthy control subjects with same age ranges. RNA was extracted from blood and mRNA level was evaluated by real time PCR in patients and controls. Also psychiatric of patients and controls had been tested withMMPI, PANSS and BPRS psychiatric tests. Results analyzed by SPSS and Bonferroni statistical softwares.We found significant over expression of NDUFS1 gene in schizophrenic patients. This increase was not affected by pharmacological treatment. There were no significant differences between the first visit and follow-up. Gene expression ratio also were significantly associated with psychiatric test scores. We are suggesting NDUFS1 gene as a potential peripheral marker for schizophrenia .

schizophrenia, Iranian patients , NDUFS1