title: Schizophrenia and the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1): association study using a single-base polymorphism in coding exon 1.
abstract: Abuse of cannabis is frequent among the young and is suspected to precipitate schizophrenia in vulnerable subjects. Cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is particularly concentrated in dopamine-modulated areas of the nervous system. An association between an AAT polymorphism of the CB1 gene and intravenous drug abuse has been previously reported, but not with schizophrenia. In a French Caucasian population, we compared the distribution of a single-base polymorphism revealed by MspI within the first exon of the CB1 gene in patients with schizophrenia (n = 102) and ethnic- and gender-matched controls (n = 63). No significant difference was seen in the allele or genotype distribution between the whole sample of schizophrenic patients and controls. However, we found a borderline lack of allele g and a significant lack of gg genotype in the non-substance-abusing patients compared to substance-abusing patients, the latter being similar to the controls. These results are the first report of an significant association between CB1 receptor and a subtype of schizophrenia. Studies are needed to confirm and further explore the precise role of the cannabinoid system in schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: INSERM E 0117-Université Paris V, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire de Santé Mentale et Thérapeutique, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Griffon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bourdel
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Olié
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D004247:DNA