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  • Can A Biopsy of the Nose Diagnose Schizophrenia?

    From 23x@21:1/5 to All on Sat Apr 1 04:00:03 2017
    Can A Biopsy of the Nose Diagnose Schizophrenia?

    April 30, 2013
    schizophrenia nose biopsy
    Schizophrenia may be detected by a biopsy of tissue from the nose, according to a pilot study published in Neurobiology of Disease. Although the findings are preliminary, the research could lead to more accurate diagnostic techniques and early detection
    of schizophrenia, said Noam Shomron, PhD, and colleagues, of Tel Aviv University in Israel.

    At the present time, the only biomarkers for schizophrenia are found in neurons that must be studied during autopsy. However, literature indicates that olfactory epithelium, which offers an accessible avenue to neural tissues, can safely be collected
    from live humans via biopsy.

    To explore the diagnostic possibilities of this technique, the investigators cultured olfactory cells from a cohort of patients with schizophrenia and compared them with cells from healthy controls. Results showed an elevated level of microRNA (miR-382)
    in patients with schizophrenia.

    Further study indicated that miR-382 regulates the expression of two genes (FGFR-1 and SPRY4) that may play a part in abnormal brain development associated with schizophrenia.

    "We were able to narrow down the microRNA to a differentially expressed set, and from there down to a specific microRNA which is elevated in individuals with the disease compared to healthy individuals," said Dr. Shomron.

    The study authors wrote, “Our data suggest that miR-382 elevation detected in patients' olfactory epithelium-derived samples might serve to strengthen current biomarker studies in schizophrenia. This study also illustrates the potential utility of
    olfactory epithelium-derived tissues and cells as surrogate samples for the brain.”

    —Lauren LeBano

    References

    1. Mor E, Kano SI, Colantuoni C, et al. MicroRNA-382 expression is elevated in the olfactory neuroepithelium of schizophrenia patients. Neurobiol Dis. 2013 Mar 29; [Epub ahead of print].

    2. Sniffing out schizophrenia [press release]. Tel Aviv, Israel: Tel Aviv University; April 29, 2013.


    http://www.psychcongress.com/article/can-biopsy-nose-diagnose-schizophrenia

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