METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

摘要

A method for the diagnosis and follow up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprises: (i) measuring mRNA of DSUB3 /SUBdopamine receptor and/or of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7 AChR) and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the DSUB3 /SUBdopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between alpha7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase in the DSUB3 /SUBdopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the alpha7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, wherein said increase in the DSUB3 /SUBdopamine receptor mRNA and/or decrease in the alpha7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual is correlated to said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder. When the mental disorder is schizophrenia, an increase of above 1.6 fold in the DSUB3 /SUBdopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease of more than 20% in the alpha7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having schizophrenia.