Time of leaving work pregnancy results during COVID-19 pandemic. The MOACC-19 cohort from Spain.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way pregnancies have been controlled as well as working conditions. In countries with paid leave of work, leaving earlier has been a relevant measure for controlling the pandemic. No study has been published on factors associated with earlier leaving work in pregnancy and the consequences it could have on pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify woman and pregnancy characteristics associated with leaving work earlier and its consequences on pregnancy results. METHOD: A cohort study was carried out in Cantabria, Northern Spain, including 760 women who were pregnant in 2020 and were working at the beginning of their pregnancy. Data on pregnancy characteristics and results were obtained from medical records and gestational age at leaving work was self-reported. In a logistic regression analysis, leaving work before 26th week of pregnancy was the main effect variable. RESULTS: Several factors were associated with lower probability of leaving work before 26th week, including university studies (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.68), having presential work (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.81), women born in non-European countries (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30, 1.01) and non-smokers (OR for smokers = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.87). Neither type of delivery, gestational age at delivery nor other pregnancy results were associated with the gestational age of leaving work. CONCLUSION: Several pregnancy and women characteristics were associated with leaving work earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, although it was not associated with any pregnancy outcome.

Influence of interleukin 10 promoter polymorphisms in polymyalgia rheumatica: disease susceptibility and functional consequences.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the functional consequences of IL10 (-592C/A and -1082A/G) gene polymorphisms and their association with susceptibility to, and disease phenotype, in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). METHODS: A total number of 168 with PMR and 124 age-matched controls were genotyped using allele-specific primers and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The levels of circulating IL10 and the production of IL10 by PBMCs after in vitro stimulation were studied by Cytometric Bead Array. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in genotype or allele frequency distribution between patients and controls. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients were also unrelated to the presence of these polymorphisms. No significant differences between PMR patients with low ESR (<40 mm/hr) and classic PMR (>40 mm/hr) were found. Furthermore, we did not observe any influence of circulating IL10 with the intensity of the acute phase response. In both, PMR patients and age-matched controls, no differences in circulating IL10 levels or IL10 production were observed depending on the genotypes of the IL10 gene. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support the impact of IL10 variants in susceptibility or clinical phenotype of PMR patients. In this aged population no functional association was found between IL10 gene variants and IL10 production.

Cellular vaccines in listeriosis: role of the Listeria antigen GAPDH.

The use of live Listeria-based vaccines carries serious difficulties when administrated to immunocompromised individuals. However, cellular carriers have the advantage of inducing multivalent innate immunity as well as cell-mediated immune responses, constituting novel and secure vaccine strategies in listeriosis. Here, we compare the protective efficacy of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages and their safety. We examined the immune response of these vaccine vectors using two Listeria antigens, listeriolysin O (LLO) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and several epitopes such as the LLO peptides, LLO189-201 and LLO91-99 and the GAPDH peptide, GAPDH1-22. We discarded macrophages as safe vaccine vectors because they show anti-Listeria protection but also high cytotoxicity. DCs loaded with GAPDH1-22 peptide conferred higher protection and security against listeriosis than the widely explored LLO91-99 peptide. Anti-Listeria protection was related to the changes in DC maturation caused by these epitopes, with high production of interleukin-12 as well as significant levels of other Th1 cytokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ, and with the induction of GAPDH1-22-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) immune responses. This is believed to be the first study to explore the use of a novel GAPDH antigen as a potential DC-based vaccine candidate for listeriosis, whose efficiency appears to highlight the relevance of vaccine designs containing multiple CD4(+) and CD8(+) epitopes.

Cytokine gene considerations in giant cell arteritis: IL10 promoter polymorphisms and a review of the literature.

Polymorphisms of cytokine genes have been investigated as susceptibility markers of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Here, we have reviewed the evidence to date and especially addressed the functional consequences of IL10 (-592C/A and -1082A/G) gene polymorphisms and their association with susceptibility to and disease phenotype in GCA. A total number of 71 patients with GCA and 124 age-matched controls were genotyped using allele-specific primers and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. As previous studies in GCA showed inconsistent results, a meta-analysis of the existing studies was also conducted by using both fixed and random-effects models. The levels of circulating IL10 and the production of IL10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro stimulation were studied by Cytometric Bead Array. Data showed no significant differences in genotype or allele frequency distribution between patients and controls. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients were also unrelated to the presence of these polymorphisms. However, the meta-analysis found a significant association of IL10 -592C/A polymorphism with susceptibility to GCA (odds ratio 2.205 (95% confidence interval 1.074-4.524); p = 0.031). In both patients and age-matched controls, no differences in circulating IL10 levels or IL10 production were observed depending on the genotypes of the IL10 gene. In conclusion, although our cohort results do not support the impact of IL10 variants in susceptibility or clinical phenotype of GCA patients, the meta-analysis revealed a significant association of -592C/A polymorphism with susceptibility to GCA. In this population, no functional association was found between IL10 gene variants and IL10 production.

Análisis del polimorfismo rs20541 (R130Q) del gen de la IL-13 en pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas asociadas al envejecimiento / Analysis of the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene in patients with elderly-associated chronic inflammatory diseases

Objetivo: Investigar si existe asociación del polimorfismo rs20541 (R130Q) del gen de la IL-13 con la susceptibilidad y la expresión clínica de pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas asociadas al envejecimiento. Material y métodos: Se estudiaron 78 pacientes con arteritis de células gigantes (ACG), 174 con polimialgia reumática (PMR), 90 con artritis reumatoide de comienzo en el anciano (EORA), y 465 controles sanos de la misma zona geográfica. El polimorfismo rs20541 (R130Q) para IL-13 se evaluó mediante PCR-RFLP. Los niveles de IL-13 circulante se determinaron por ELISA. Resultados: En los pacientes con ACG se observó una mayor frecuencia del genotipo AA [2,349 (0,994- 5,554)], así como del alelo A [1,589 (1,085-2,328)] y de portadores de dicho alelo [1,656 (1,021-2,686)] (p < 0,05). No encontramos diferencias significativas entre los pacientes con PMR y EORA respecto al grupo control. Cuando comparamos las diferentes patologías entre sí, tampoco encontramos diferencias significativas entre ellas. En los pacientes con ACG las diferencias en el genotipo se asociaron con el pronóstico de la enfermedad. En pacientes con PMR, el genotipo AA se asoció con niveles más elevados de IL-13 circulante comparado con el GA. Sin embargo, esta asociación no se apreció para los controles o las otras enfermedades. Conclusiones: La ACG es más frecuente en individuos portadores del polimorfismo rs20541 (R130Q) del gen de la IL13. La utilidad de este gen para predecir el pronóstico en ACG debe ser confirmada en estudios con mayor número de pacientes (AU)

Objective: To investigate whether there is association between the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene with disease susceptibility and clinical subsets in patients with elderly-associated inflammatory chronic diseases. Material and methods: 78 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), 174 with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 90 elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA), and 465 healthy controls from the same geographic area were studied. The rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene was evaluated by PCR-RFLP. Circulating levels of IL-13 were measured by ELISA. Results: A higher frequency of the AA genotype [2.349 (0.994-5.554)], as well as the allele A [1.589 (1.085- 2.328] and the A carriers [1.656 (1.021-2.686)] (p < 0.05) was observed in the GCA patients. No significant differences were observed in the PMR and EORA patients as compared with the healthy controls. Neither difference was observed among the different disease groups studied. In GCA patients, differences in the genotype were associated with a worse prognosis. In PMR patients, the AA genotype was associated with higher levels of serum IL-13 than the GA one. However, such an association was not detected for controls and the other disease groups. Conclusions: GCA is more frequent in carriers of the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene. The utility of this polymorphism to predict the GCA prognosis must be confirmed in studies with a higher number of patients (AU)

Analysis of the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene in patients with elderly-associated chronic inflammatory diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is association between the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene with disease susceptibility and clinical subsets in patients with elderly-associated inflammatory chronic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 78 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), 174 with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 90 elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA), and 465 healthy controls from the same geographic area were studied. The rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene was evaluated by PCR-RFLP. Circulating levels of IL-13 were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: A higher frequency of the AA genotype [2.349 (0.994-5.554)], as well as the allele A [1.589 (1.085-2.328] and the A carriers [1.656 (1.021-2.686)] (p<0.05) was observed in the GCA patients. No significant differences were observed in the PMR and EORA patients as compared with the healthy controls. Neither difference was observed among the different disease groups studied. In GCA patients, differences in the genotype were associated with a worse prognosis. In PMR patients, the AA genotype was associated with higher levels of serum IL-13 than the GA one. However, such an association was not detected for controls and the other disease groups. CONCLUSIONS: GCA is more frequent in carriers of the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene. The utility of this polymorphism to predict the GCA prognosis must be confirmed in studies with a higher number of patients.

Phagosomes induced by cytokines function as anti-Listeria vaccines: novel role for functional compartmentalization of STAT-1 protein and cathepsin-D.

Phagosomes are critical compartments for innate immunity. However, their role in the protection against murine listeriosis has not been examined. We describe here that listericidal phago-receptosomes are induced by the function of IFN-γ or IL-6 as centralized compartments for innate and adaptive immunity because they are able to confer protection against murine listeriosis. These phago-receptosomes elicited LLO(91-99)/CD8(+)- and LLO(189-201)/CD4(+)-specific immune responses and recruited mature dendritic cells to the vaccination sites controlled by T cells. Moreover, they present exceptional features as efficient vaccine vectors. First, they compartmentalize a novel listericidal STAT-1-mediated signaling pathway that confines multiple innate immune components to the same environment. Second, they show features of MHC class II antigen-loading competent compartments for cathepsin-D-mediated LLO processing. Third, murine cathepsin-D deficiencies fail to develop protective immunity after vaccination with listericidal phago-receptosomes induced by IFN-γ or IL-6. Therefore, it appears that the connection of STAT-1 and cathepsin-D in a single compartment is relevant for protection against listeriosis.

The intact structural form of LLO in endosomes cannot protect against listeriosis.

LLO is the major immuno-dominant antigen in listeriosis and is also required for protective immunity. Two forms of LLO can be observed in endosomal membranes, a LLO intact form and a Ctsd-processed LLO(1-491) form. Endosomes obtained from resting macrophages contained only LLO intact forms, while endosomes obtained from IFN-activated macrophages contained both forms. Both types of endosomes elicited LLO(90-91)/CD8(+) and LLO(189-201)/CD4(+) specific immune responses. However, only endosomes containing the Ctsd-processed LLO(1-491) form showed significant CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses similar to LM infected bone marrow derived macrophages and characteristic of protective Listeria immunity. Moreover, endosomes with intact LLO could not confer protection as vaccine carriers against murine listeriosis. While endosomes with Ctsd-processed LLO(1-491) form showed a moderate ability, slightly lower than high efficiency vaccine vectors as MØ infected with LM. These studies argue that all cell-free membrane vesicles might serve as valid vaccine carriers against infectious agents. Exclusively those cell-free vesicles MIIC competent for LLO processing are protective vaccines vectors since they recruit significant numbers of mature dendritic cells to the vaccination sites and contain a LLO(1-491) form that might be accessible for MHC class I and class II antigen presentation.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism and negative symptoms after acute antipsychotic treatment in first-episode non-affective psychosis.

Genetic factors play an important role in the understanding of clinical response to antipsychotic treatments. We aimed to assess the effect of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype in the short-term (6 weeks) clinical response of 161 first-episode psychosis patients. COMT genotype was not related to clinical response at 6 weeks. Val homozygote patients showed higher negative symptoms than Met homozygote patients. The COMT Val158 genotype seems to be related to the severity of negative symptoms rather than to clinical response.

LIMP-2 links late phagosomal trafficking with the onset of the innate immune response to Listeria monocytogenes: a role in macrophage activation.

The innate immune response to Listeria monocytogenes depends on phagosomal bacterial degradation by macrophages. Here, we describe the role of LIMP-2, a lysosomal type III transmembrane glycoprotein and scavenger-like protein, in Listeria phagocytosis. LIMP-2-deficient mice display a macrophage-related defect in Listeria innate immunity. They produce less acute phase pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 but normal levels of IL-12, IL-10, and IFN-γ and a 25-fold increase in susceptibility to Listeria infection. This macrophage defect results in a low listericidal potential, poor response to TNF-α activation signals, impaired phago-lysosome transformation into antigen-processing compartments, and uncontrolled LM cytosolic growth that fails to induce normal levels of acute phase pro-inflammatory cytokines. LIMP-2 transfection of CHO cells confirmed that LIMP-2 participates in the degradation of Listeria within phagosomes, controls the late endosomal/lysosomal fusion machinery, and is linked to the activation of Rab5a. Therefore, the role of LIMP-2 appears to be connected to the TNF-α-dependent and early activation of Listeria macrophages through internal signals linking the regulation of late trafficking events with the onset of the innate Listeria immune response.

CD69 limits early inflammatory diseases associated with immune response to Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Mouse infection with intracellular bacteria induces a potent inflammatory response that requires protective mechanisms to avoid infection-induced immune pathology. CD69 is expressed in all leukocytes during activation after infection with a wide range of microbial pathogens. This study explores the way in which CD69 affects cell activation after Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection and its effects on host protection. We show that infectivity and bacterial clearance capability are unaltered in CD69(-/-) peritoneal macrophages, bone marrow-derived macrophages and dendritic cells. We found no major altered cell populations in splenocytes of Lm-infected CD69(-/-) mice. However, an increase in the expression of Th1 cytokines was observed after infection, with increased production of type I and II interferon (IFN). In addition, CD69(-/-) splenocytes showed increased apoptosis, consistent with IFN enhancement of lymphocyte apoptosis in response to Lm infection. CD69(-/-) mice showed liver and spleen damage, and greatly increased susceptibility to Lm infection, compared with wild-type controls. Lm-specific T cells were decreased in CD69(-/-) mice even if T-cell cross-presentation and T-cell intrinsic priming response were not compromised. As listeriosis was increased as early as day 1 post-infection but CD69(-/-)RAG2(-/-) mice were more efficient at controlling Listeria, we propose that CD69 controls the cross-talk between innate components and lymphocytes. These results highlight a role for CD69 in preventing infection-induced immunopathology.

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met variations and cannabis use in first-episode non-affective psychosis: clinical-onset implications.

New models of interaction between genetic and environmental factors have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase) gene, involved in dopamine regulation and related to negative symptoms, has been previously thought to interact with cannabis use in the modulation of risk of psychosis. The aim of the study was to explore the existence of an interaction between COMT genotype and cannabis use in early stages of psychosis and its effects on the age of onset in a representative group of first-episode psychosis patients. Age of onset, DUP (Duration of Untreated Psychosis) and cannabis use (regular user versus sporadic or non-user) were assessed in 169 Caucasian patients with a first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder. COMT polymorphism was typed using PCR of the relevant region followed by digestion with NlaIII and electrophoresis. A multivariate ANCOVA was performed with DUP and age of onset as dependent variables, cannabis and the COMT genotype as fixed factors, and gender as a covariate. The MANCOVA was significant for age of onset and DUP. Cannabis users had a significant earlier age of onset. Age of onset was later in the Met homozygote group (non-significant). The cannabis-COMT interaction showed a significant effect on both DUP and age of onset. Post hoc analyses showed that differences between genotypes were only present in the non-users' group. Based on these results, the use of cannabis could exert a modulator effect on the genotype, suppressing the delay effect for the age of onset in the case of the Met allele patients.

Serotonin transporter polymorphisms and early response to antipsychotic treatment in first episode of psychosis.

There is substantial evidence suggesting that individual variability in antipsychotic treatment response could be genetically determined. Variations in several serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphisms have been associated with antipsychotic response among chronic patients with schizophrenia, although their implication in early response among first-episode patients remains unclear. Two polymorphisms in the 5-HTT gene (a 44 bp insertion/deletion in the promoter region and the functional polymorphism rs25531) were genotyped in a sample of 147 drug-naïve patients experiencing a first episode of a non-affective psychosis. Early (6 weeks) response to antipsychotic treatment with haloperidol, olanzapine or risperidone was assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms. No clear association was found between the rs25531 variant and treatment response. However, significant associations were observed between 5-HTT-LPR variants and early negative symptom response among first-episode patients with psychosis. Our results suggest a minor contribution to antipsychotic drug response of genetic alterations in the 5-HTT gene.

The innate immunity role of cathepsin-D is linked to Trp-491 and Trp-492 residues of listeriolysin O.

Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a thiol-activated cytolysin secreted by Listeria monocytogenes. LLO and phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C are two essential virulence factors, which this bacterium needs to escape from the phagosomal compartment to the cytoplasm. Cathepsin-D specifically cleaves LLO, between the Trp-491 (tryptophan amino acid in three letter nomenclature) and Trp-492 residues of the conserved undecapeptide sequence, ECTGLAWEWWR, in the domain 4 of LLO (D4). Moreover, these residues also correspond to the phagosomal-binding epitope. Cathepsin-D had no effect on phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C. We have observed that cathepsin-D cleaved the related cholesterol-dependent cytolysin pneumolysin at the same undecapeptide sequence between Trp-435 and Trp-436 residues. These studies also revealed an additional cathepsin-D cleavage site in the pneumolysin D4 domain localized in the 361-GDLLLD-366 sequence. These differences might confer a pathogenic advantage to listeriolysin O, increasing its resistance to phagosomal cathepsin-D action by reducing the number of cleavages sites in the D4 domain. Using ΔLLO/W491A and ΔLLO/W492A bacterial mutants, we reveal that the Trp-491 residue has an important role linked to cathepsin-D in Listeria innate immunity.

Interleukin-1RN gene polymorphisms in elderly patients with rheumatic inflammatory chronic conditions: Association of IL-1RN*2/2 genotype with polymyalgia rheumatica.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between IL1RN polymorphism and disease susceptibility for three age-related inflammatory conditions: polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA), and elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA). A tandem-repeat polymorphism within IL1RN intron 2 was analyzed in 139 PMR, 69 GCA, and 156 RA patients (75 with EORA) as well as in 437 healthy subjects, together with the in vitro production of IL-1beta. Our results showed that the IL1RN*2/2 genotype was more frequent in PMR patients compared with controls (p = 0.032, odds ratio = 1.785, 95% confidence interval = 1.047-3.044) and GCA patients (p = 0.008, odds ratio = 4.661, 95% confidence interval = 1.352-16.065). We found no difference in the distribution of genotypes between PMR and EORA or between EORA and controls. However, the frequency of the IL-1RN*2/2 genotype had a tendency to be higher in patients with EORA compared with young onset RA. The presence of IL1RN*1 or IL1RN*2 allele was not associated with severity of the disease in PMR and GCA patients and did not influence the production of IL-1beta. In conclusion, the IL1RN*2 polymorphism in a homozygous state was associated with an increased susceptibility to PMR and may give some clues for a differential therapy with GCA.

Effect of antipsychotics on peptides involved in energy balance in drug-naive psychotic patients after 1 year of treatment.

Weight gain has become one of the most common and concerning side effects of antipsychotic treatment. The mechanisms whereby antipsychotics induce weight gain are not known. It has been suggested that peptides related to food intake and energy balance could play a role in weight gain secondary to antipsychotic therapy. To better understand the pathophysiology of antipsychotic-induced weight gain, we studied the effects of 3 antipsychotic drugs (haloperidol, olanzapine, and risperidone) on peptides involved in energy balance (insulin, ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, and resistin) in a population of drug-naive patients with first episode of psychosis.A significant increase in weight (10.16 kg [SD, 8.30 kg]; P < 0.001), body mass index (3.56 kg/m [SD, 2.89 kg/m]; P < 0.001), and fasting insulin (3.93 muU/mL [SD, 3.93 muU/mL]; P = 0.028), leptin (6.76 ng/mL [SD, 7.21 ng/mL]; P < 0.001), and ghrelin (15.47 fmol/mL [SD, 47.90 fmol/mL]; P = 0.009) plasma levels were observed. The increments in insulin and leptin concentrations were highly correlated with the increment in weight and body mass index and seem to be a consequence of the higher fat stores. The unexpected increase in ghrelin levels might be related with the causal mechanism of weight gain induced by antipsychotics. Finally, the 3 antipsychotics had similar effects in all parameters evaluated.

Lack of influence of COMT Val158Met genotype on cognition in first-episode non-affective psychosis.

COMT gene is a logical candidate gene for schizophrenia. Moreover, variations in the COMT Val158Met functional polymorphism have been associated with prefrontal cognitive abnormalities among patients with schizophrenia, healthy relatives and controls. In this study, using an epidemiologically-based sample of 130 patients experiencing a first-episode of a non-affective psychosis, we examined whether COMT Val158Met genotype influenced cognitive performance on the phenotypic expression of psychosis. We found no significant differences in any cognitive measure according to COMT genotype. These findings, together with previously published research, put the relationship between COMT genotype and cognitive performance in doubt.

Interleukin-12 plasma levels in drug-naïve patients with a first episode of psychosis: effects of antipsychotic drugs.

An overactivation of the Th1 activity in schizophrenia had been described. Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a proinflammatory cytokine, plays a key role in the regulation of the Th1 response. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of first and second generation antipsychotic drugs on IL-12 production during the acute phase of the illness and its association with clinical features. Participants comprised 56 drug-naïve first episode psychotic patients and 28 healthy volunteers. Patients were initially randomly assigned to risperidone (n=16), olanzapine (n=20) or haloperidol (n=20); subject were maintained on the same medication throughout the study. Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline and at 6 weeks. IL-12 plasma levels were assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. IL-12 haplotypes were also analysed. Patients showed higher IL-12 plasma levels at baseline compared with controls, and had a significant increase in IL-12 plasma level after 6 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. No significant differences in IL-12 level increase were found among the three antipsychotic treatments. IL-12 plasma levels at week 6 were not significantly associated with the severity of psychopathology at week 6. Thus, patients with a first episode of psychosis have inflammatory-like immunological function during early phases of the illness that it is independent of the antipsychotic treatment used.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genotype and brain morphometry in first-episode non-affective psychosis.

Studies of schizophrenia that combine imaging and genetic approaches attempt to map structural brain anomalies associated with genetic risk variants. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether variations in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) were associated with structural brain characteristics of 73 minimally medicated first-episode non-affective psychotic patients. We did not find evidence for association between genetic variation in the IL-1RN gene and brain morphometry at early phases of the illness.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism and clinical characteristics in first episode non-affective psychosis.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has been identified as a potential etiologic factor in schizophrenia. It has been proposed that this polymorphism could be associated with specific clinical markers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of COMT Val158Met polymorphism genotype in the phenotypic expression of first episode psychosis at onset. Age of onset, DUP, SANS, and SAPS (positive, disorganized, and negative dimensions) were studied in 169 Caucasian drug-naïve patients with a first-episode of non-affective psychosis. The COMT Val158Met polymorphism was typed using PCR amplification of the relevant region followed by digestion with NlaIII and electrophoresis. A multivariate ANCOVA was performed with COMT and gender as independent variables. Patients with Val/Val genotype had significantly higher levels of SANS negative dimension scores (F: 3.539; P = 0.031) and had a younger age of onset (F: 4.649; P = 0.011) than Met carriers. Our findings suggest that the Val allele is associated with onset phenotypic features related to a poor prognosis of the illness. These data would indicate that COMT genotype may have a role in the etiological model for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.