COMT haplotype analyses in Malaysians with schizophrenia
Shiau Foon Tee1, Pek Yee Tang, Han Chern Loh
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Psychiatry Research
|August 30, 2011
Summary
This study investigated the genetic link between the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene and schizophrenia. Researchers found a specific G-G-G haplotype strongly associated with schizophrenia in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurogenetics
- Psychiatric Genetics
- Molecular Psychiatry
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder with a significant genetic component.
- The catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been implicated in schizophrenia susceptibility.
- Replication studies are crucial for validating genetic associations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To replicate the genetic association between the COMT gene and schizophrenia.
- To investigate specific haplotypes within the COMT gene for their role in schizophrenia.
- To utilize a haplotype block-based gene-tagging approach for robust analysis.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- 261 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 261 healthy controls were recruited.
- Haplotype block-based gene-tagging was used to analyze the COMT gene.
Main Results:
- A highly significant association was observed between a specific G-G-G haplotype and schizophrenia.
- This finding supports the role of the COMT gene in schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Conclusions:
- The G-G-G haplotype of the COMT gene is significantly associated with schizophrenia.
- Further research into COMT gene variations may provide insights into schizophrenia mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
01:05Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
A single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP is a single nucleotide variation at a specific genomic position in a large population. It is the most prevalent type of sequence variation found in the human genome. Point mutations that occur in more than 1% of the population qualify as SNPs. These are present once every 1000 nucleotides on an average in the human genome. Replacement of a purine with another purine (A/G) or a pyrimidine with another pyrimidine (C/T) is known as a transition. In contrast,...
01:17Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.