This discovery allows for a quick and objective result.
A study by a team of researchers from Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) has shown that analyzing cells from the cheek mucosa could become a fast and non-invasive method for diagnosing schizophrenia, replacing months of uncertainty faced by millions of patients. The researchers identified two key proteins in cheek cells that are associated with schizophrenia symptoms. This discovery allows for a quick and objective result, unlike the current diagnosis, which is based on observing patients' behavior, including hallucinations, social isolation, and memory problems. This behavioral approach is inconsistent, as the disease manifests differently in different individuals.
In the absence of biological markers, doctors often spend up to a year finding effective medications for a specific patient. Previous attempts to find a biological signal in the brain or blood have proven to be costly or inconvenient for patients. The researchers decided to focus on cheek mucosa cells, as they originate from the same embryonic tissue – the ectoderm – as brain cells. Analyzing these easily accessible cells allows for studying processes occurring in the central nervous system and identifying molecular signs of the disease without invasive procedures.
The study involved 54 individuals: 27 patients with schizophrenia and 27 healthy participants matched by age, sex, and race. Samples were taken using a simple 60-second cheek swab. Then, RT-PCR methods were used to study gene activity and mass spectrometry to measure protein levels. The focus was on three genes and one protein previously linked to schizophrenia. The results showed that patients with schizophrenia had significantly elevated levels of mRNA Sp4 and protein HSP60 compared to the healthy group. These biomarkers correlated with clinical manifestations: higher levels of Sp4 and HSP60 were associated with severe symptoms and memory problems. Increased Sp4 activity, in particular, was associated with poor information recognition – a common cognitive issue in schizophrenia.
Sp4 controls the production of HSP60, so these two markers together form a biological signal indicating the disease. Meanwhile, the other two studied genes did not show significant differences between patients and the control group. Such markers could change the diagnostic approach, allowing doctors to obtain quick laboratory results instead of lengthy observations of patient behavior. The researchers' goal is to use these tests for early detection of schizophrenia and more precise treatment selection. A simple 60-second cheek swab could also help identify patient groups and expedite the selection of appropriate medications.
However, it is still unknown whether these biomarkers can be detected at an early stage or before symptoms appear, as the study was conducted on already diagnosed patients. Additionally, of the 54 participants, half of the patients with schizophrenia had marker levels similar to the control group, indicating that the markers do not explain all cases of the disease. This study paves the way for more objective and personalized schizophrenia diagnostics, allowing for the identification of biological signs in specific patient groups and tailoring more accurate treatment for them.
