Association of telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number with risperidone treatment response in first-episode antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia

Sci Rep. 2015 Dec 18:5:18553. doi: 10.1038/srep18553.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates a putative association of telomere length and mitochondrial function with antipsychotics response in schizophrenia (SCZ). However, pharmacological findings were limited and no previous work has assessed this in a prospective longitudinal study. This study assessed telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in first-episode antipsychotic-naïve SCZ patients with 8-week risperidone treatment to evaluate the association between these biomarkers and clinical treatment response. We recruited 137 first-episode antipsychotic-naive SCZ patients (and 144 controls) at baseline and 89 patients completed the 8-week follow-up. Patients, completed follow-up, were divided into Responders (N = 46) and Non-Responders (N = 43) according to the percentage of symptoms improvement. Linear regression analyses show that SCZ patients had significantly lower mtDNA copy number (β = -0.108, p = 0.002), and no alteration of telomere length when compared with healthy controls. In addition, compared with Non-Responders, Responders had significantly lower mtDNA copy number (β = -0.178, p = 0.001), and longer telomere length (β = 0.111, p = 0.071) before the 8-week treatment. After treatment, Responders persisted lower mtDNA copy number comparing with No-Responders (partial η(2) = 0.125, p = 0.001). These findings suggest that telomere length and mtDNA copy number may hold the potential to serve as predictors of antipsychotic response of SCZ patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gene Dosage
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Prospective Studies
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Risperidone / therapeutic use*
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy*
  • Telomere / metabolism*
  • Telomere Shortening
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Risperidone