Support for RGS4 as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
The gene encoding the regulator of G-protein signaling 4 has recently been associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia. This finding is particularly interesting, because it was replicated within the same study and also because there are functional, positional, and expression data to support the regulator of G-protein signaling 4 as a schizophrenia candidate gene. Although the original report was highly suggestive, a limitation was that the study was conducted on rather small samples.


METHODS
We have examined a large case (n = 709) control (n = 710) sample for association between schizophrenia using four markers investigated in the earlier study, denoted single nucleotide polymorphisms 1, 4, 7, and 18.


RESULTS
We were able to replicate the associations with single nucleotide polymorphisms 4 and 18 that had previously been reported individually and have also identified significant association with haplotypes constructed from single nucleotide polymorphisms 1 and 4.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data give modest support for the hypothesis that the regulator of G-protein signaling 4 is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.
Williams
Nigel M
NM
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Preece
Anna
A
Spurlock
Gillian
G
Norton
Nadine
N
Williams
Hywel J
HJ
McCreadie
Robin G
RG
Buckland
Paul
P
Sharkey
Val
V
Chowdari
Kodavali V
KV
Zammit
Stanley
S
Nimgaonkar
Vishwajit
V
Kirov
George
G
Owen
Michael J
MJ
O'Donovan
Michael C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D013912:Threonine / Q000235:genetics
D020710:RGS Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C098799:RGS4 protein; D013912:Threonine; D000409:Alanine; D005998:Glycine