Allelic variation in the human prodynorphin gene promoter and schizophrenia.
Experimental and clinical studies suggest an involvement of the opioid neuropeptide system in schizophrenia. In particular, the prodynorphin (PDYN), the precursor of the dynorphin opioid peptides, has been shown to play an important role in several aspects of human mental diseases. Recently, a functional polymorphism in the promoter of PDYN gene has been described. We studied the possible relationship between this polymorphism and schizophrenia and we found no significant difference in allelic and genotype distributions between schizophrenic patients and control subjects. However, we observed a significant interactive effect with the receptor 3 of dopamine gene (DRD3); in particular, the frequency of subjects carrying PDYN allele 3 being also homozygotes for DRD3 Gly allele (of Ser9Gly polymorphism) was significantly greater in patients than controls. We conclude that PDYN gene polymorphism alone does not alter the risk for schizophrenia but, by an epistatic interaction with the Gly allele of DRD3 gene, may contribute to the susceptibility to this disorder.
Genetics Unit, IRCCS S Giovanni di Dio, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
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Ventriglia
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Bocchio Chiavetto
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Bonvicini
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Tura
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Bignotti
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Racagni
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Gennarelli
D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; C033660:preproenkephalin; D005998:Glycine