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Association for serotonin transporter gene variable number tandem repeat polymorphism and schizophrenic disorders
Shih-Jen Tsai1, Wen-Chen Ouyang, Chen-Jee Hong
1Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Neuropsychobiology
|April 30, 2002
Summary
Allele 12 of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene VNTR was associated with schizophrenia in a Chinese population. This finding supports allele 12 as a potential risk factor for schizophrenia in this demographic group.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Previous Western studies reported conflicting findings regarding the association between serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene variants and schizophrenia.
- A recent study identified a link between the 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 and schizophrenia in a Chinese population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate the association between the 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 and schizophrenic disorders in a Taiwanese Chinese population.
- To investigate the role of the 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 as a potential genetic risk factor for schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study design.
- Genotyping of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism.
- Statistical analysis to determine the association between 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 and schizophrenia.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association was found between the 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 and schizophrenic patients in the Taiwanese Chinese population (one-sided p = 0.043).
- The observed association was modest, indicating a weak effect size.
Conclusions:
- The findings replicate and support the association of the 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 with schizophrenic disorders in Chinese populations.
- The 5-HTT-VNTR allele 12 is suggested as a potential, albeit weak, risk factor for schizophrenia in this demographic group.