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Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
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Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2024 | Viewed by 3067

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Paola Rocca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Interests: psychiatric research
Dr. Claudio Brasso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Via Cherasco, 13, 10126 Turin, Italy
Interests: schizophrenia, psychoses; neuroimaging; omic science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders have a high lifetime prevalence (0.5–1%) and remain among the top 15 causes of years lived with disability worldwide. They strongly affect the functioning and quality of life for patients and their loved ones. The difficulties resulting from these disorders also generate economic problems in the form of considerable direct and mainly indirect costs. The molecular alterations underlying schizophrenia and related disorders are only marginally known. Therefore, studying the molecular biology of this group of psychiatric conditions is of extreme scientific interest. In particular, the disorder encompasses various symptoms and lies at the interface between neurodevelopment and neuroprogression processes affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Omics sciences and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing how we approach the biology of complex biological systems such as the CNS and its disorders. The application of these methods to patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders might provide exciting insights into their pathophysiology, the relationship between specific molecular findings and various symptom domains, and open new avenues for identifying possible new molecular targets.

We therefore invite researchers working in this field to submit original research articles or reviews describing and discussing the most recent advancements and developments regarding the molecular underpinnings of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Genetic or genomic studies on schizophrenia spectrum disorders;
  • Epigenetic or transcriptomic studies on schizophrenia spectrum disorders;
  • Proteomic and metabolomic studies on schizophrenia spectrum disorders;
  • Molecular studies on schizophrenia applying deep learning techniques;
  • Studies that correlate the symptoms or cognitive characteristics of schizophrenia spectrum disorders with molecular aspects.

Prof. Dr. Paola Rocca
Dr. Claudio Brasso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • schizophrenia spectrum disorders
  • central nervous system (CNS)
  • psychotic disorders

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1431 KiB  
Article
A Secondary Analysis of the Complex Interplay between Psychopathology, Cognitive Functions, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels, and Suicide in Psychotic Disorders: Data from a 2-Year Longitudinal Study
by Pasquale Paribello, Mirko Manchia, Ulker Isayeva, Marco Upali, Davide Orrù, Federica Pinna, Roberto Collu, Diego Primavera, Luca Deriu, Edoardo Caboni, Maria Novella Iaselli, Davide Sundas, Massimo Tusconi, Maria Scherma, Claudia Pisanu, Anna Meloni, Clement C. Zai, Donatella Congiu, Alessio Squassina, Walter Fratta, Paola Fadda and Bernardo Carpinielloadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147922 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 724
Abstract
Identifying phenotypes at high risk of suicidal behaviour is a relevant objective of clinical and translational research and can facilitate the identification of possible candidate biomarkers. We probed the potential association and eventual stability of neuropsychological profiles and serum BDNF concentrations with lifetime [...] Read more.
Identifying phenotypes at high risk of suicidal behaviour is a relevant objective of clinical and translational research and can facilitate the identification of possible candidate biomarkers. We probed the potential association and eventual stability of neuropsychological profiles and serum BDNF concentrations with lifetime suicide ideation and attempts (LSI and LSA, respectively) in individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SCA) in a 2-year follow-up study. A secondary analysis was conducted on a convenience sample of previously recruited subjects from a single outpatient clinic. Retrospectively assessed LSI and LSA were recorded by analysing the available longitudinal clinical health records. LSI + LSA subjects consistently exhibited lower PANSS-defined negative symptoms and better performance in the BACS-letter fluency subtask. There was no significant association between BDNF levels and either LSI or LSA. We found a relatively stable pattern of lower negative symptoms over two years among patients with LSI and LSA. No significant difference in serum BDNF concentrations was detected. The translational viability of using neuropsychological profiles as a possible avenue for the identification of populations at risk for suicide behaviours rather than the categorical diagnosis represents a promising option but requires further confirmation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders)
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Review

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20 pages, 1563 KiB  
Review
The Association and Prognostic Implications of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Major Psychiatric Disorders, Alzheimer’s Diseases and Parkinson’s Diseases: A Systematic Review
by Lin Zhu, Meng Guo, Ke Li, Chuang Guo and Kuanjun He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 10995; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252010995 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 257
Abstract
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases is steadily increasing, placing a significant burden on both society and individuals. Given the intricate and multifaceted nature of these diseases, the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Consequently, there is an increasing imperative to investigate [...] Read more.
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases is steadily increasing, placing a significant burden on both society and individuals. Given the intricate and multifaceted nature of these diseases, the precise underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Consequently, there is an increasing imperative to investigate the mechanisms, identify specific target sites for effective treatment, and provide for accurate diagnosis of patients with these diseases. Numerous studies have revealed significant alterations in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting their potential to increase the probability of these diseases. Moreover, these findings propose that lncRNAs could be used as highly valuable biomarkers in diagnosing and treating these diseases, thereby offering novel insights for future clinical interventions. The review presents a comprehensive summary of the origin, biological functions, and action mechanisms of lncRNAs, while exploring their implications in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases and their potential utility as biomarkers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders)
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20 pages, 1161 KiB  
Review
The Interrelationships between Cytokines and Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review
by Haibing Lv, Meng Guo, Chuang Guo and Kuanjun He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8477; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158477 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 771
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) imposes a significant burden on patients and their families because of its high prevalence rate and disabling nature. Given the lack of definitive conclusions regarding its pathogenesis, physicians heavily rely on patients’ subjective symptom descriptions for diagnosis because reliable diagnostic biomarkers [...] Read more.
Schizophrenia (SCZ) imposes a significant burden on patients and their families because of its high prevalence rate and disabling nature. Given the lack of definitive conclusions regarding its pathogenesis, physicians heavily rely on patients’ subjective symptom descriptions for diagnosis because reliable diagnostic biomarkers are currently unavailable. The role of the inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of SCZ has been supported by some studies. The findings of these studies showed abnormal changes in the levels of inflammatory factors, such as cytokines (CKs), in both peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) among individuals affected by SCZ. The findings imply that inflammatory factors could potentially function as risk indicators for the onset of SCZ. Consequently, researchers have directed their attention towards investigating the potential utility of CKs as viable biomarkers for diagnosing SCZ. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing disease-specific components exhibit remarkable stability and abundance, making them promising candidates for biomarker discovery across various diseases. CKs encapsulated within EVs secreted by immune cells offer valuable insights into disease progression. This review presents a comprehensive analysis summarizing the relationship between CKs and SCZ and emphasizes the vital role of CKs encapsulated within EVs in the pathogenesis and development of SCZ. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders)
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17 pages, 890 KiB  
Review
The Role of microRNA in Schizophrenia: A Scoping Review
by Ke Li, Lin Zhu, Haibing Lv, Yulong Bai, Chuang Guo and Kuanjun He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147673 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 884
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease that is regulated by multiple genes and influenced by multiple factors. Due to the complexity of its etiology, the pathogenesis is still unclear. MicroRNAs belong to a class of small non-coding RNAs that are highly conserved in [...] Read more.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease that is regulated by multiple genes and influenced by multiple factors. Due to the complexity of its etiology, the pathogenesis is still unclear. MicroRNAs belong to a class of small non-coding RNAs that are highly conserved in endogenous evolution and play critical roles in multiple biological pathways. In recent years, aberrant miRNA expression has been implicated in schizophrenia, with certain miRNAs emerging as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for this disorder. In this review, our objective is to investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in schizophrenia, elucidate their potential mechanisms of action, and assess their feasibility as biomarkers. The PubMed electronic database and Google Scholar were searched for the years 2003 to 2024. The study focused on schizophrenia and miRNA as the research topic, encompassing articles related to biomarkers, etiology, action mechanisms, and differentially expressed genes associated with schizophrenia and miRNA. A total of 1488 articles were retrieved, out of which 49 were included in this scope review. This study reviewed 49 articles and identified abnormal expression of miRNA in different tissues of both schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, suggesting its potential role in the pathogenesis and progression of schizophrenia. Notably, several specific miRNAs, including miR-34a, miR-130b, miR-193-3p, miR-675-3p, miR-1262, and miR-218-5p, may serve as promising biological markers for diagnosing schizophrenia. Furthermore, this study summarized potential mechanisms through which miRNAs may contribute to the development of schizophrenia. The studies within the field of miRNA’s role in schizophrenia encompass a broad spectrum of focus. Several selected studies have identified dysregulated miRNAs associated with schizophrenia across various tissues, thereby highlighting the potential utility of specific miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for this disorder. Various mechanisms underlying dysregulated miRNAs in schizophrenia have been explored; however, further investigations are needed to determine the exact mechanisms by which these dysregulated miRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of this condition. The exploration of miRNA’s involvement in the etiology and identification of biomarkers for schizophrenia holds significant promise in informing future clinical trials and advancing our understanding in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Underpinnings of Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders)
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