Serum protein markers in Chinese schizophrenics--haptoglobin types and transferrin and group-specific component...

Four hundred and thirty-nine Chinese schizophrenic male patients were investigated for the distribution of haptoglobin types; transferrin and group-specific component subtypes. The allelic frequencies of these three polymorphisms in the patient group were compared with those in healthy controls from published series. An excess of Gc2 over Gc1 (chi 2(1) 4.1; P less than 0.05) as well as a lack of Gc1S (chi 2(1) 15.3; P less than 0.001) was observed in schizophrenia. The relative risks of Gc1F, Gc1S and Gc2 have been estimated as 1.12, 0.76 and 1.15, respectively. It appears from this study that the presence of Gc2 renders individuals susceptible while Gc1S offers protection for schizophrenia. No such association was found for the haptoglobin or transferrin polymorphisms.