Abstract
Background: Family, adoption and twin studies support genetic component to pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Prodynorphin is one of the endogenous opiate precursors. Its products are neuromodulators that influence a variety of neurological functions including behavior. In addition some of their direct and indirect pharmacological action supports their role a candidate genes in schizophrenia. Objective: To conduct a systematic search of the prodynorphin gene for polymorphisms and mutations in schizophrenia patients and case controls and to correlate these with any association with this complex disorder. Method: Patient and control samples were collected by standard methods. Diagnosis was made using DSM-IV criteria after abstraction from extensive clinical records. Systematic search of entire gene for variations was done using Bi-directional fingerprinting method in the patients and controls. This was confirmed by sequencing. Results and Conclusions: We report several polymorphisms in the prodynorphin gene. One of these is a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region that seems to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia two fold. The significance of these findings needs to be further elucidated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 620 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Journal | American Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics |
Volume | 105 |
Issue number | 7 |
State | Published - Oct 8 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience