Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 21, 2018
Multitrait Genetic Analysis Identifies Novel Pleiotropic Loci for Depression and Schizophrenia in East Asians
Yingchao Song1, Linzehao Li1, Yue Jiang1
1College of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data for Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University, Shandong, China.
Background And Hypothesis:
While genetic correlations, pleiotropic loci, and shared genetic mechanisms of psychiatric disorders have been extensively studied in European populations, the investigation of these factors in East Asian populations has been relatively limited.
Study Design:
To identify novel pleiotropic risk loci for depression and schizophrenia (SCZ) in East Asians. We utilized the most comprehensive dataset available for East Asians and quantified the genetic overlap between depression, SCZ, and their related traits via a multitrait genome-wide association study. Global and local genetic correlations were estimated by LDSC and ρ-HESS. Pleiotropic loci were identified by the multitrait analysis of GWAS (MTAG).
Study Results:
Besides the significant correlation between depression and SCZ, our analysis revealed genetic correlations between depression and obesity-related traits, such as weight, BMI, T2D, and HDL. In SCZ, significant correlations were detected with HDL, heart diseases and use of various medications. Conventional meta-analysis of depression and SCZ identified a novel locus at 1q25.2 in East Asians. Further multitrait analysis of depression, SCZ and related traits identified ten novel pleiotropic loci for depression, and four for SCZ.
Conclusions:
Our findings demonstrate shared genetic underpinnings between depression and SCZ in East Asians, as well as their associated traits, providing novel candidate genes for the identification and prioritization of therapeutic targets specific to this population.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...

