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. 2023 Jan 20;18(1):e0280694.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280694. eCollection 2023.

Ribosomal DNA gene copies are increased in blood and brain of Japanese schizophrenia patients

Sen Li  1 , Ikuo Otsuka  1 , Takaki Tanifuji  1 , Satoshi Okazaki  1 , Tadasu Horai  1 , Motonori Takahashi  2 , Takeshi Kondo  2 , Yasuhiro Ueno  2 , Akitoyo Hishimoto  3
Affiliations

Ribosomal DNA gene copies are increased in blood and brain of Japanese schizophrenia patients

Sen Li et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Past evidence has indicated increased ribosomal DNA (rDNA) content in the blood of patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) among European populations. Here, for the first time, we investigated the rDNA copy number (rDNAcn) of SCZ in East Asian populations as well as in blood and brain tissues. In this study, we measured 18S/28S rDNAcn in the peripheral blood of live participants (81 patients with SCZ and 98 healthy controls) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) of postmortem individuals (10 patients with SCZ and 23 non-psychiatric controls) in the Japanese population. Patients with SCZ had significantly increased 18S/28S rDNAcn in the blood compared to controls (p < 0.05). 18S rDNAcn was significantly increased in the brain of patients with SCZ compared to controls (p < 0.05). In conclusion, regarding the increased rDNAcn in the blood of patients with SCZ that was previously reported in Europeans, we successfully replicated this by using a different, ethnically East Asian, cohort. Additionally, we provide the first evidence of increased rDNAcn in the brain of patients with SCZ. These findings may help to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of SCZ pathophysiology related to ribosomal DNA abnormalities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Violin and scatter dot plot including box and whiskers (with minimum to maximum) of 18S/28S ribosomal DNA copy number (rDNAcn) in blood samples from patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and controls (CON).
All p values were adjusted for age and sex as covariates.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Violin and scatter dot plot including box and whiskers (with minimum to maximum) of 18S/28S ribosomal DNA copy number (rDNAcn) of dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and controls (CON).
All p values were adjusted for age and sex as covariates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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