State-dependent alterations in mitochondrial complex I activity in platelets: a potential peripheral marker for schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, the most severe psychiatric disorder, is characterized by heterogeneity of clinical signs, often categorized into positive and negative symptoms. Among a wide array of competing biological mechanisms, altered cerebral energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction have been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study we investigated mitochondrial complex I in platelets of 113 schizophrenic patients divided into three groups (acute psychotic episode, chronic active state and residual schizophrenia) and 37 control subjects. Complex I was analysed at the level of enzymatic activity, mRNA and protein levels by enzyme kinetics, RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, respectively. Complex I activity in platelets of schizophrenic patients altered with disease state presenting high specificity and sensitivity. Thus, increased activity was associated with psychotic symptomology, while its decrease was observed in patients with residual schizophrenia. The relationship between the clinical state and complex I activity in schizophrenia was further supported by its positive correlation with the severity of patients' positive symptoms assessed by clinical ratings. In addition, similar alterations were observed at the levels of mRNA and protein of the 24- and 51-kDa iron-sulfur flavoprotein subunits of the complex. Taken together these results point to the potential of platelet complex I to turn into a reliable novel marker for schizophrenia. At present, definitive diagnosis depends only on descriptive behavioral and symptomatic information, therefore a peripheral measurable specific marker will contribute to diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.