Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of GABAA receptor β2 subunit gene with schizophrenia / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the genetic association between schizophrenia and the polymorphism of GABA(A) receptor β2 subunit (GABRB2) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population association analysis was performed of 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the proximal promoter of GABRB2 gene by PCR and sequencing of the genomic DNA in a cohort of 172 schizophrenics and 167 controls of Chinese Han nationality.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One out of the 5 SNPs, namely rs3811996, was found to be significantly associated with schizophrenia especially in the male cohorts, where the heterozygous genotypes (A/G) and minor allele G displayed lower frequencies in case group than in the controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We found a new risk, SNP rs3811996, for paranoia schizophrenia, which further supports the importance of genetic variations of GABRB2 in the etiology of schizophrenia.</p>