The increased activity of plasma manganese superoxide dismutase in tardive dyskinesia is unrelated to the Ala-9Val polymorphism.
That tardive dyskinesia (TD) may have its origins in free-radical toxicity has stimulated investigations into one enzyme important in the control of oxidative free radicals: superoxide dismutase (SOD). The manganese-containing form of this enzyme (MnSOD) is the major superoxide scavenger in mitochondria; a weak association between a functional genetic polymorphism (Ala-9Val) in the mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) of this enzyme and TD has been reported in a Japanese population. We have undertaken to determine both the plasma activity of MnSOD and the association of the Ala-9Val polymorphism in a well-matched series of male Chinese schizophrenic patients with (n=42) and without (n=59) TD, and normal male controls (n=50). MnSOD activity was elevated in the TD subjects over those without TD (P<0.05) and normal controls (P<0.05), an effect that was independent of age, age at first antipsychotic treatment, drug dosage and duration of illness. A significant positive correlation between total AIMS score and MnSOD activity was also observed (P<0.0001). No significant reduction in the frequency of the Ala allele was observed in the TD group (0.14) below non-TD (0.18) or control subjects (0.17); nor was there any relationship between MnSOD activity and the polymorphism. There was no difference between the mean AIMS scores for the two genotypes (V/V and A/V) in the TD group. We conclude that while we have further evidence of a disturbance in the mechanisms regulating oxidative free radicals in TD, this effect is not under the control of the genetic polymorphism investigated here.
Zhang
ZhiJun
Z
Department of Psychiatry, Nanjing Brain Hospital and Nanjing Medical University, PR China.
Zhang
XiaoBin
X
Hou
Gang
G
Sha
WeiWei
W
Reynolds
Gavin P
GP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D015698:Genomic Library; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase