1
|
Zhan N, Sham PC, So HC, Lui SSY. The genetic basis of onset age in schizophrenia: evidence and models. Front Genet 2023; 14:1163361. [PMID: 37441552 PMCID: PMC10333597 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1163361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heritable neurocognitive disorder affecting about 1% of the population, and usually has an onset age at around 21-25 in males and 25-30 in females. Recent advances in genetics have helped to identify many common and rare variants for the liability to schizophrenia. Earlier evidence appeared to suggest that younger onset age is associated with higher genetic liability to schizophrenia. Clinical longitudinal research also found that early and very-early onset schizophrenia are associated with poor clinical, neurocognitive, and functional profiles. A recent study reported a heritability of 0.33 for schizophrenia onset age, but the genetic basis of this trait in schizophrenia remains elusive. In the pre-Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) era, genetic loci found to be associated with onset age were seldom replicated. In the post-Genome-Wide Association Study era, new conceptual frameworks are needed to clarify the role of onset age in genetic research in schizophrenia, and to identify its genetic basis. In this review, we first discussed the potential of onset age as a characterizing/subtyping feature for psychosis, and as an important phenotypic dimension of schizophrenia. Second, we reviewed the methods, samples, findings and limitations of previous genetic research on onset age in schizophrenia. Third, we discussed a potential conceptual framework for studying the genetic basis of onset age, as well as the concepts of susceptibility, modifier, and "mixed" genes. Fourth, we discussed the limitations of this review. Lastly, we discussed the potential clinical implications for genetic research of onset age of schizophrenia, and how future research can unveil the potential mechanisms for this trait.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pak C. Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre of PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hon-Cheong So
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Simon S. Y. Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Association of functional polymorphisms in 3'-untranslated regions of COMT, DISC1, and DTNBP1 with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Psychiatr Genet 2019; 28:110-119. [PMID: 30252773 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, various studies have accumulated evidence of the involvement of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in introns and exons in schizophrenia. The association of functional SNPs in the 3'-untranslated regions with schizophrenia has been explored in a number of studies, but the results are inconclusive because of limited meta-analyses. To systematically analyze the association between SNPs in 3'-untranslated regions and schizophrenia, we conducted a meta-analysis by combining all available studies on schizophrenia candidate genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched candidate genes from the schizophrenia database and performed a comprehensive meta-analysis using all the available data up to August 2017. The association between susceptible SNPs and schizophrenia was assessed by the pooled odds ratio with 95% confidence interval using fixed-effect and random-effect models. RESULTS A total of 21 studies including 8291 cases and 9638 controls were used for meta-analysis. Three investigated SNPs were rs165599, rs3737597, and rs1047631 of COMT, DISC1, and DTNBP1, respectively. Our results suggested that rs3737597 showed a significant association with schizophrenia in Europeans (odds ratio: 1.584, P: 0.002, 95% confidence interval: 1.176-2.134) under a random-effect framework. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis indicated that rs3737597 of DISC1 was significantly associated with schizophrenia in Europeans, and it can be suggested as an ethnic-specific risk genetic factor.
Collapse
|
3
|
Tylec A, Jeleniewicz W, Mortimer A, Bednarska-Makaruk M, Kucharska K. Interaction Between Val158Met Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Polymorphism and Social Cognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia: Pilot Study. Ann Hum Genet 2017; 81:267-275. [PMID: 28856668 DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Aneta Tylec
- Department of Psychiatry; Medical University of Lublin; Lublin Poland
| | - Witold Jeleniewicz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Medical University of Lublin; Lublin Poland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Loch AA, van de Bilt MT, Bio DS, Prado CMD, Sousa RTD, Valiengo LL, Moreno RA, Zanetti MV, Gattaz WF. Epistasis between COMT Val158Met and DRD3 Ser9Gly polymorphisms and cognitive function in schizophrenia: genetic influence on dopamine transmission. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2015; 37:235-41. [DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2014-1553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
5
|
Nowrouzi B, Kamhi R, Hu J, Kennedy JL, Matmari M, De Luca V. Age at onset mixture analysis and systematic comparison in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Is the onset heterogeneity dependent on heterogeneous diagnosis? Schizophr Res 2015; 164:83-91. [PMID: 25818628 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Revised: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A major obstacle to the identification of the neurobiological correlates of schizophrenia is the substantial diagnostic heterogeneity of this disorder. Dividing schizophrenia into "early" and "late" subtypes may reduce heterogeneity and facilitate identification of biomarkers related to this disease. Our objective was to assess the presence of different sub-groups in schizophrenia by age at onset analysis. The participants in this study were 612 unrelated patients with schizophrenia. Admixture analysis was applied in order to identify a model of separate normal distributions of age at onset characterized by different means, variances and population proportions to evaluate the effect of winter birth and ethnicity on early onset schizophrenia. The best-fitting model suggested three subgroups with means and standard deviations of 17.11 ± 2.09, 21.96 ± 3.43 and 30.02 ± 7.1 years, comprising 34.6%, 42.6% and 22.8% of the sample respectively. We considered as predictors of early onset schizophrenia: male gender, winter birth, white ethnicity and positive family history for psychiatric disorders. Earlier onset was significantly associated with male gender. We also compared our age at onset distribution with those published in other studies and we found significant differences with several studies suggesting heterogeneity in age at onset that is likely influenced by diagnostic heterogeneity in applying the DSM-IV criteria. Overall, our study showed that a typical early onset schizophrenia patient is more likely to be a white male with cannabis abuse and positive family history of psychiatric disorders. The heterogeneity in reporting age at onset across different studies suggests the application of more stringent criteria in diagnosing schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Behdin Nowrouzi
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roy Kamhi
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jayi Hu
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Matmari
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vincenzo De Luca
- Schizophrenia Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Williams SM. Epistasis in the risk of human neuropsychiatric disease. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1253:71-93. [PMID: 25403528 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2155-3_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disease represents the ideal class of disease to assess the role of epistasis, as more genes are expressed in the brain than in any other tissue. In this chapter, two well-studied neuropsychiatric diseases are examined, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia, which have been shown to have multiple and, often, replicated interactions that associate with clinical endpoints or related phenotypes. In each case, a single gene is represented in a plurality of epistatic interactions, apolipoprotein E (APOE) for AD and catechol-O-methyltransferase for schizophrenia. Interestingly, of the two, only APOE has clear-cut and consistent evidence for a marginal association. Unraveling the underlying reasons is important in understanding both genetic etiology and architecture as well as how to use genetics to provide better personalized treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Williams
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 78 College ST, HB 6044, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Risbrough V, Ji B, Hauger R, Zhou X. Generation and characterization of humanized mice carrying COMT158 Met/Val alleles. Neuropsychopharmacology 2014; 39:1823-32. [PMID: 24509724 PMCID: PMC4059890 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2013] [Revised: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Val158Met polymorphism of human catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) is one of the most well-studied single-nucleotide polymorphisms in neuropsychiatry; however, findings are inconsistent due to human genetic heterogeneity. We created the first 'humanized' COMTVal158Met mouse lines, which carry either human COMT Val or Met alleles via gene targeting. The 'humanized' mouse model enables strict comparison of the physiological functions of the two alleles. Consistent with human observation, Met/Met mice exhibited a 30% reduction in enzymatic activity compared with Val/Val mice. On the basis of the reported differences in human Met and Val carriers across working memory, fear processes and sensorimotor gating, we examined these functions between sibling Met/Met and Val/Val mice. Val/Val mice exhibited robust reductions in spatial working memory compared with Met/Met mice in both sexes, with tolcapone treatment significantly reversing the Val/Val alternation deficits. Sex effects were observed in other behaviors, with male Val/Val mice exhibited lower prepulse inhibition compared with Met/Met mice, whereas female mice exhibited the opposite phenotype. Female but not male Met/Met mice exhibited reduced contextual fear, increased cued fear, and reduced extinction recall. Thus, these mice (1) support the argument that human COMT Val158Met polymorphism modulates behavioral functions and most importantly (2) exhibit the expected treatment effects supporting the 'inverted U shaped' dose response of catecholamine signaling on cognitive function. This model will be invaluable for understanding the effects of human COMT Val158Met polymorphism on cortical development and behavioral functions, and how this polymorphism modulates treatment response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Risbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive Mail Code 0804, La Jolla 92093-0804, CA, USA. Tel: +1 619 543 3582, Fax: +1 619 543 2493, E-mail: or
| | - Baohu Ji
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Richard Hauger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Xianjin Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA,Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive Mail Code 0804, La Jolla 92093-0804, CA, USA. Tel: +1 619 543 3582, Fax: +1 619 543 2493, E-mail: or
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xia H, Wu N, Su Y. Investigating the genetic basis of theory of mind (ToM): the role of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphisms. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49768. [PMID: 23209597 PMCID: PMC3507837 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to deduce other persons' mental states and emotions which has been termed ‘theory of mind (ToM)’ is highly heritable. First molecular genetic studies focused on some dopamine-related genes, while the genetic basis underlying different components of ToM (affective ToM and cognitive ToM) remain unknown. The current study tested 7 candidate polymorphisms (rs4680, rs4633, rs2020917, rs2239393, rs737865, rs174699 and rs59938883) on the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. We investigated how these polymorphisms relate to different components of ToM. 101 adults participated in our study; all were genetically unrelated, non-clinical and healthy Chinese subjects. Different ToM tasks were applied to detect their theory of mind ability. The results showed that the COMT gene rs2020917 and rs737865 SNPs were associated with cognitive ToM performance, while the COMT gene rs5993883 SNP was related to affective ToM, in which a significant gender-genotype interaction was found (p = 0.039). Our results highlighted the contribution of DA-related COMT gene on ToM performance. Moreover, we found out that the different SNP at the same gene relates to the discriminative aspect of ToM. Our research provides some preliminary evidence to the genetic basis of theory of mind which still awaits further studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiwei Xia
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjie Su
- Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tovilla-Zárate C, Medellín BC, Fresán A, López-Narváez L, Castro TBG, Juárez Rojop I, Ramírez-Bello J, Genis A, Nicolini H. No association between catechol-o-methyltransferase Val108/158Met polymorphism and schizophrenia or its clinical symptomatology in a Mexican population. Mol Biol Rep 2012. [PMID: 23184041 PMCID: PMC3538011 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2264-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The gene coding for catecol-o-methyltransferase (COMT), participant in the metabolism of catecholamines, has long been implicated as a candidate gene for schizophrenia. We determined the relation of the COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism with schizophrenia or its symptomatology (negative, disorganized and psychotic dimension). We conducted a case–control study comprising 186 patients with schizophrenia and 247 controls. The diagnosis of schizophrenia was established using the DSM-IV criteria for this illness. The clinical symptomatology was assessed through the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms. No significant differences were found in the distribution of alleles (χ2 = 0.01, df = 1, p = 0.90) or genotypes (χ2 = 1.66, df = 2, p = 0.43) between schizophrenic patients and the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that the COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism has no influence in the clinical symptomatology of schizophrenia. Our results showed no association between COMT Val108/158Met and schizophrenia or evidence for an association between COMT and the clinical symptomatology of this illness. This suggests that the COMT gene may not contribute to the risk for schizophrenia among the Mexican population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Tovilla-Zárate
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Ranchería Sur, Cuarta Sección, C.P. 86650, Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lajin B, Alachkar A, Hamzeh AR, Michati R, Alhaj H. No association between Val158Met of the COMT gene and susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Syrian population. NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2012; 3:176-8. [PMID: 22540087 PMCID: PMC3336908 DOI: 10.4297/najms.2011.3176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: The Val158Met single nucleotide polymorphism of the COMT gene has been implicated in the aetiology of schizophrenia, although results from different populations have been conflicting. Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate possible association between schizophrenia and Val158Met in a novel Arab population from Syria. Methods and Materials: 71 unrelated schizophrenic subjects (45 men) and 102 unrelated healthy controls (62 men) were recruited to take part in this case- control study. The Val158Met of the COMT gene was genotyped for patients and controls, using a new optimized PCR-RFLP method. Results: the results demonstrated that there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study does not support that Val158Met has an influence on susceptibility for schizophrenia in this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bassam Lajin
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Witte AV, Flöel A. Effects of COMT polymorphisms on brain function and behavior in health and disease. Brain Res Bull 2012; 88:418-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2011] [Revised: 11/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
12
|
[Default mode network of the brain. Neurobiology and clinical significance]. DER NERVENARZT 2012; 83:16, 18-24. [PMID: 21584789 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-011-3307-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The resting state of the human brain is intrinsically organized by the so-called default mode network (DMN) which comprises cortical midline structure as well as lateral parietal and temporal areas. The activity of this system increases during self-oriented thinking, e.g. during a resting state but decreases during externally oriented attention and specific cognitive tasks. This review article provides a historical and methodological outline of the DMN model and describes its functional anatomy and putative functions. Based on the empirical literature the clinical implications of alterations of the DMN architecture and its role in various mental disorders are discussed.
Collapse
|
13
|
Walshe M, Vassos E, Picchioni M, Shaikh M, Toulopoulou T, Collier D, McDonald C, Murray R, Bramon E. The Association between COMT, BDNF, and NRG1 and Premorbid Social Functioning in Patients with Psychosis, Their Relatives, and Controls. SCIENTIFICA 2012; 2012:560514. [PMID: 24278715 PMCID: PMC3820633 DOI: 10.6064/2012/560514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the influences of putative candidate genes for psychosis on premorbid social adjustment and on premorbid schizoid-schizotypal traits. A family-based sample was used including 177 patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder with a history of psychotic symptoms, 86 of their unaffected relatives, and 116 unrelated healthy controls. Association analyses on the combined sample were conducted using the Statistical Analysis for Genetic Epidemiology software (SAGE) and adjusting for age, sex, clinical group, and the family-based nature of the data. The COMT Val(158)Met and BDNF Val(66)Met polymorphisms showed no evidence of association with either phenotype. The SNP rs221533 of the NRG1 gene was significantly associated with premorbid adjustment in adolescence with TT homozygous subjects having a poorer performance than C allele carriers. In the context of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and other psychoses, this finding is plausible; however, it is preliminary and requires replication in an independent sample. In a broader sense, the use of intermediate quantitative phenotypes such as the ones presented in this study may be of help to understand the mechanism of action of genetic risk factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muriel Walshe
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Evangelos Vassos
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Marco Picchioni
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Madiha Shaikh
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Timothea Toulopoulou
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - David Collier
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Colm McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Robin Murray
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Elvira Bramon
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, P.O. Box 63, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lott SA, Burghardt PR, Burghardt KJ, Bly MJ, Grove TB, Ellingrod VL. The influence of metabolic syndrome, physical activity and genotype on catechol-O-methyl transferase promoter-region methylation in schizophrenia. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2012; 13:264-71. [PMID: 22391769 DOI: 10.1038/tpj.2012.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) 158Val/Met variant has been suggested to play a role in COMT function. Epigenetic regulation of COMT may further influence the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in these patient populations. This study examined the correlation between COMT promoter methylation and metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia patients receiving atypical antipsychotic (AAP) therapy. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of schizophrenia subjects screened for metabolic syndrome. Pyrosequencing was used to analyze two methylation sites of the soluble COMT (COMT-s) promoter region. Associations between AAP use, lifestyle variables, metabolic syndrome and COMT genotype with peak methylation values were analyzed. Data are reported in 85 subjects. Methylation on CpG site 1 had a mean of 79.08% (±4.71) and it was 12.43% (±1.19) on site 2. COMT genotype proved to be an indicator of COMT methylation status on site 1 (F(2, 84)=5.78, P=0.0044) and site 2 (F(2, 84),=3.79, P=0.027). A significant negative correlation between physical activity and COMT promoter region methylation was found in Val/Val homozygous patients (site 1: P=0.013 and site 2: P=0.019). Those homozygous for Met/Met showed a positive correlation between promoter site methylation and physical activity (site 1: P=0.027, site 2: P=0.005), and between CpG site methylation and metabolic syndrome (site 1: P=0.002; site 2: P=0.001). The results of this study suggest that COMT promoter region methylation is largely influenced by COMT genotype and that physical activity plays a significant role in epigenetic modulation of COMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S A Lott
- Department of Clinical Social and Administrative Sciences, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Meyer U, Schwarz MJ, Müller N. Inflammatory processes in schizophrenia: a promising neuroimmunological target for the treatment of negative/cognitive symptoms and beyond. Pharmacol Ther 2011; 132:96-110. [PMID: 21704074 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that schizophrenia is associated with activated peripheral and central inflammatory responses. Such inflammatory processes seem to be influenced by a number of environmental and genetic predisposition factors, and they may critically depend on and contribute to the progressive nature of schizophrenic disease. There is also appreciable evidence to suggest that activated inflammatory responses can undermine disease-relevant affective, emotional, social, and cognitive functions, so that inflammatory processes may be particularly relevant for the precipitation of negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Recent clinical trials of anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy in this disorder provide promising results by showing superior beneficial treatment effects when standard antipsychotic drugs are co-administered with anti-inflammatory compounds, as compared with treatment outcomes using antipsychotic drugs alone. Given the limited efficacy of currently available antipsychotic drugs to ameliorate negative and cognitive symptoms, the further exploration of inflammatory mechanisms and anti-inflammatory strategies may open fruitful new avenues for improved treatment of symptoms undermining affective, emotional, social and cognitive functions pertinent to schizophrenic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urs Meyer
- Physiology and Behaviour Laboratory, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Schorenstrasse 16, 8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|