Possible association between a haplotype of the GABA-A receptor alpha 1 subunit gene (GABRA1) and mood disorders.
BACKGROUND
The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. The GABRA1 gene encodes one of the subunits of GABA-A receptor and is located on human chromosome 5q34-q35, which is a region reportedly linked to mood disorders. We examined the GABRA1 gene as a candidate for mood disorders.


METHODS
We performed mutation screening of GABRA1 in 24 Japanese bipolar patients and evaluated associations in Japanese case-control subjects consisting of 125 patients with bipolar disorder, 147 patients with depressive disorders, and 191 healthy control subjects. Associations were confirmed in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Initiative Bipolar Pedigrees, which consists of 88 multiplex pedigrees with 480 informative persons.


RESULTS
We identified 13 polymorphisms in the GABRA1 gene. Nonsynonymous mutations were not found. Association of a specific haplotype with affective disorders was suggested in the Japanese case-control population (corrected p=.0008). This haplotype association was confirmed in the NIMH pedigrees (p=.007).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the GABRA1 gene may play a role in the etiology of bipolar disorders.
Horiuchi
Yasue
Y
Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Nakayama
Junko
J
Ishiguro
Hiroki
H
Ohtsuki
Tsuyuka
T
Detera-Wadleigh
Sevilla D
SD
Toyota
Tomoko
T
Yamada
Kazuo
K
Nankai
Masahiro
M
Shibuya
Haruo
H
Yoshikawa
Takeo
T
Arinami
Tadao
T
D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A