Alterations of Brain Membranes in Schizophrenia: Impact of Phospholipase A2

Physiological enzymatic cleavage of membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) 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 PLA(2) (iPLA(2)) 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 PLA(2) activity are probably genetically determined and represent a possible pharmacological target for Schizophrenia.