Alterations of Brain Membranes in Schizophrenia: Impact of Phospholipase A2

E.L.      Schaeffer; W.F.      Gattaz; G.P.      Eckert

Abstract

Physiological enzymatic cleavage of membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) results in normal levels of phosphomonoester and phosphodiester, by which a normal dopamine neurotransmission is maintained. Data from postmortem tissue and in vivo imaging studies suggest that increased activity of intracellular calcium-independent PLA2 (iPLA2) in the brain of schizophrenic patients might accelerate the breakdown of membrane phospholipids and alter the properties of neuronal membranes, which in turn contributes to a hypodopaminergy. Alterations in PLA2 activity are probably genetically determined and represent a possible pharmacological target for Schizophrenia.

Keywords: schizophrenia, neuroimaging, membrane, phospholipase A2, dopamine

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