An Association Study of Schizophrenics and Their Clinical Variables with Tryptophan Hydroxylase Gene Polymorphism / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The genetic polymorphism of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin, has been to be related with various psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorders. However, the role of TPH gene polymorphism in schizophrenia is totally unknown. Author examined the association of the TPH gene polymorphism with the development and the clinical variables of schizophrnia. METHODS: Genomic DNAs from 217 schizophrenic patients and 236 healthy controls were isolated, and TPH gene was amplified using PCR. Amplified TPH DNA was digested with NheI and the polymorphism was examined by electrophoresis on agarose gel. RESULTS: The allele frequencies and the genotypes of TPH gene were not significantly different between the schizophrenics and the control groups. They were also not associated with most of the clinical variables of schizophrenia such as subtypes, suicidal ideation, age at onset, and family histories. Among the clinical variables, only suicidal rate was highly correlated with genotype 218C/C. CONCLUSION: We found possible association of the suicical behavior with 218C/C polymorphism. However, it seems that A218C polymorphism of TPH gene does not associated with the development and other clinical variables of schizophrenia.