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Genetic Relationship between Schizophrenia and Nicotine Dependence
Jingchun Chen1, Silviu-Alin Bacanu2,3, Hui Yu4
1Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA.
Scientific Reports
|May 11, 2016
Summary
Schizophrenia patients often smoke, but the genetic link is complex. This study suggests shared genetic factors influence both schizophrenia and nicotine dependence, implicating specific genes and pathways in cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Most schizophrenia patients smoke cigarettes, a common comorbidity with unclear underlying mechanisms.
- Hypotheses suggest various reasons for this association, including self-medication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic relationship between schizophrenia, plasma cotinine concentration (COT), and nicotine dependence (FTND).
- To identify shared genetic liabilities and biological pathways implicated in both conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized summary statistics from large meta-analyses of schizophrenia, COT, and FTND data.
- Employed polygenic risk score analyses to assess genetic correlations.
- Identified shared genes and enriched biological pathways.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia risk scores predicted FTND and cigarettes smoked per day (CPD), supporting the self-medication hypothesis.
- Cotinine concentration (COT) risk scores predicted schizophrenia diagnosis, indicating shared genetic factors.
- Identified specific genes (e.g., RBFOX1, TINCR) and pathways (e.g., calcium signaling, long-term potentiation) associated with both conditions.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia and nicotine dependence (FTND/CPD/COT) share a genetic liability.
- Specific genes involved in RNA binding, protein modification, and energy production are implicated.
- Shared genetic factors are enriched in pathways crucial for cognitive functions and neuronal plasticity.
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