Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Methods for Studying the Mechanisms of Action of Antipsychotic Drugs in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: February 4, 2014
The CNR1 gene as a pharmacogenetic factor for antipsychotics rather than a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia
Nora Hamdani1, Jean-Pierre Tabeze, Nicolas Ramoz
1AP-HP, Hôpital Louis Mourier (Paris VII), service de psychiatrie, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700 Colombes, France.
Abstract:
Neurobiological research suggests a significant role of the endocannabinoid system in schizophrenia vulnerability and also in the quality of response to antipsychotics. Genetics offer an opportunity to disentangle its involvement in the disease vulnerability vs an influence on antipsychotics' effects. The possible role of a tag SNP (the 1359G/A polymorphism) of the gene encoding the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CNR1) in schizophrenia and/or therapeutic response to atypical antipsychotics was assessed in a cohort of 133 French schizophrenic patients compared to 141 normal control subjects. No difference in 1359G/A polymorphism was observed between patients and control subjects, and no relationships were noted between this polymorphism and any clinical parameter considered as potential intermediate factor. However, the G allele frequency was significantly higher among non-responsive vs responsive patients, with a dose effect of the G allele. In contrast, no association was found for three other genetic polymorphisms of the CNR1 gene. The G allele of the CNR1 gene polymorphisms could be a psychopharmacogenetic rather than a vulnerability factor regarding schizophrenia and its treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
