From: mjs23x@gmail.com   
      
   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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