Research article

Expression of POU-domain transcription factor, Oct-6, in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression

Kirenjeet Ubhi and Jack Price

Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, Denmark Hill, London, UK

author email corresponding author email

BMC Psychiatry 2005, 5:38doi:10.1186/1471-244X-5-38

Published:	24 October 2005

Abstract

Background

The POU-domain transcription factor Oct-6 has been reported to be differentially expressed between schizophrenic and control post-mortem brains. In this study, we attempted to replicate this finding and to discover whether Oct-6 was also dysregulated in bipolar disorder and major depression.

Methods

Oct-6 mRNA and protein expression were determined by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry respectively in sections of post-mortem brain.

Results

We did not observe any differences in Oct-6 expression between any of the groups under study. Oct-6 mRNA and protein was identically expressed in the hippocampal and cortical regions of most specimens in all groups, including controls.

Conclusion

Oct-6 is, therefore, unlikely to be a specific marker for any psychological disorder; rather its expression in controls suggests that it is normally expressed in most adult brains.