Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
Association Study of Polymorphisms in Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Genes With Schizophrenia in
Yuan-Yuan Li1, Rui-Jie Geng1, Shun-Ying Yu2
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Objective:
To investigate the relation between nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit (nAChR) genes and schizophrenia, and the relation between tag single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1317286, rs1044396, rs6494212, rs16969968, and rs684513) and schizophrenia in Han Chinese people.
Methods:
The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network among nAChR protein and 350 proteins encoded by schizophrenia-related susceptibility genes was constructed through the String database to explore whether nAChR genes were associated with schizophrenia in these known databases. Then, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHRNA3 (rs1317286), CHRNA4 (rs1044396), CHRNA7 (rs6494212), and CHRNA5 (rs16969968, rs684513) were analyzed in a sample of 1,035 schizophrenic patients and 816 healthy controls. The interaction between the markers was analyzed using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) software. Power analysis was performed using the Quanto program.
Results:
There are no significant differences in genotype or allele distribution were identified between the patients and controls (p>0.05). The haplotypes constructed by four markers rs1317286, rs6494212, rs16969968, and rs684513 were not associated with schizophrenia either. However, a significant association between models made of rs1317286, rs1044396, rs6494212, and rs684513 and schizophrenia was revealed in interaction analysis (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The nAChR protein may have effects on the development of schizophrenia through the interaction with proteins encoded by schizophrenia-related susceptibility genes, but no relation was found between selected polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the collected Han Chinese people. However, interaction analysis suggested four-SNP model has an important effect on schizophrenia.
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
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...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

