A Biomarker to Differentiate between Primary and Cocaine-Induced Major Depression in Cocaine Use Disorder: The Role of Platelet IRAS/Nischarin (I1-Imidazoline Receptor)

• Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry Vol. 8; p. 258
• Main Authors: Keller, Benjamin, Mestre-Pinto, Joan-Ignasi, Álvaro-Bartolomé, María, Martinez-Sanvisens, Diana, Farre, Magí, García-Fuster, M. Julia, García-Sevilla, Jesús A., Torrens, Marta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 01.12.2017
• Subjects: acute tryptophan depletion; cocaine use disorder; cocaine-induced depression; IRAS/nischarin; major depressive disorder; platelet biomarker; Psychiatry; acute tryptophan depletion; cocaine use disorder; major depressive disorder; IRAS/nischarin; antidepressant drugs; cocaine-induced depression; platelet biomarker
• ISSN: 1664-0640; 1664-0640
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00258

The association of cocaine use disorder (CUD) and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD; CUD/MDD) is characterized by high prevalence and poor treatment outcomes. CUD/MDD may be primary (primary MDD) or cocaine-induced (CUD-induced MDD). Specific biomarkers are needed to improve diagnoses and therapeutic approaches in this dual pathology. Platelet biomarkers [5-HT receptor and imidazoline receptor antisera selected (IRAS)/nischarin] were assessed by Western blot in subjects with CUD and primary MDD (  = 16) or CUD-induced MDD (  = 9; antidepressant free, AD-; antidepressant treated, AD+) and controls (  = 10) at basal level and/or after acute tryptophan depletion (ATD). Basal platelet 5-HT receptor (monomer) was reduced in comorbid CUD/MDD subjects (all patients: 43%) compared to healthy controls, and this down-regulation was independent of AD medication (decreases in AD-: 47%, and in AD+: 40%). No basal differences were found for IRAS/nischarin contents in AD+ and AD- comorbid CUD/MDD subjects. The comparison of IRAS/nischarin in the different subject groups during/after ATD showed opposite modulations (i.e., increases and decreases) in response to low plasma tryptophan levels with significant differences discriminating between the subgroups of CUD with primary MDD and CUD-induced MDD. These specific alterations suggested that platelet IRAS/nischarin might be useful as a biomarker to discriminate between primary and CUD-induced MDD in this dual pathology.