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No evidence for association between DRD3 and COMT with schizophrenia in a Malay population

S F Tee1, P Y Tang, H C Loh

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Genetics and Molecular Research : GMR
|September 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant association between dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) or COMT gene variations and schizophrenia in the Malay population. Further research into other dopamine-related genes is recommended for schizophrenia insights.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) molecular components are implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
  • Previous studies suggested associations between DRD3 Ser9Gly and COMT (rs165656) polymorphisms with schizophrenia, but findings were inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between DRD3 Ser9Gly and COMT (rs165656) polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the Malay population.
  • To analyze genotype and allele frequencies of these polymorphisms in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used.
  • Genotype distributions were assessed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE).
  • Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between 261 Malay schizophrenia patients and 216 controls.

Main Results:

  • The DRD3 Ser9Gly polymorphism was in HWE for patients but not controls.
  • Both groups were out of HWE for the COMT rs165656 polymorphism.
  • No significant association was found between DRD3 Ser9Gly or COMT rs165656 and schizophrenia in Malays.

Conclusions:

  • DRD3 Ser9Gly and COMT rs165656 polymorphisms are not significantly associated with schizophrenia in the studied Malay cohort.
  • Further investigation into other dopamine-related genes and their link to schizophrenia phenotypes is warranted.

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