Apolipoprotein E genotype and schizophrenia: further negative evidence.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and schizophrenia.


METHODS
We genotyped 106 schizophrenic out-patients [Diagnostic Statistic Manual IV (DSM-IV) criteria] and 250 healthy volunteers (hospital staff and blood donors) from Asturias (Northern Spain). The ApoE genotypes (epsilon2, epsilon3, epsilon4-alleles) were determined after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme Cfol and electrophoresis on a 4% agarose gel.


RESULTS
No significant differences in ApoE-allele frequencies between patients and controls was found, although an increased 64-frequency was recorded in patients compared with controls [9.0% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.124; odds ratio (OR) = 1.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.82-2.70]. ApoE-genotype frequencies did not differ between both groups. The mean age of onset for schizophrenic patients that carried the epsilon4-allele was not significantly different from that of patients without this allele.


CONCLUSIONS
Variation in the ApoE gene was not associated with the development of schizophrenia in our population. ApoE-genotypes did not modify the age of onset of the disease.
Sáiz
P A
PA
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Spain.
Morales
B
B
G-Portilla
M P
MP
Alvarez
V
V
Coto
E
E
Fernández
J M
JM
Bousoño
M
M
Bobes
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005819:Genetic Markers