Decrease of the D3 dopamine receptor mRNA expression in lymphocytes from patients with Parkinson's disease.

We investigated the dopamine receptor (DAR) mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 45 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 21 age-matched controls using the quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction method. Beta-actin mRNA was used as an internal control to evaluate the relative expression level of the DAR mRNA. There was a statistically significant decrease of the D3 dopamine receptor (D3R) mRNA expression in PD patients compared with that in controls. There was no change in expression of the D5 dopamine reception mRNA in PD patients. A further binding study showed reduction of the D3R binding sites in PD lymphocytes. The decrease of the D3R mRNA expression correlated with the degree of clinical severity in PD patients.