Association between schizophrenia and the syntaxin 1A gene.
BACKGROUND
Both microarray and candidate molecule studies have demonstrated that protein and mRNA expression of syntaxin and other genes involved in synaptic function are altered in the cerebral cortex of patients with schizophrenia.


METHODS
Genetic association between polymorphic markers in the syntaxin 1A gene and schizophrenia was assessed in a matched case-control sample of 192 pairs, and in an independent sample of 238 nuclear families.


RESULTS
In the family-based sample, a significant genetic association was found between schizophrenia and one of the four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tested: an intron 7 SNP (transmission disequilibrium test [TDT] chi(2) = 5.898; df = 1; p =.015, family-based association test [FBAT] z = 2.280, p =.023). When the results for the TDT and case-control analyses were combined, the association was stronger (n = 430; z(c) = 2.859; p =.004). Haplotype analysis supported the association with several significant values that appear to be driven by the intron 7 SNP.


CONCLUSIONS
The results should be treated with caution until replicated, but this is the first report of a genetic association between syntaxin 1A and schizophrenia.
Wong
Albert H C
AH
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Trakalo
Joseph
J
Likhodi
Olga
O
Yusuf
Muneeb
M
Macedo
Antonio
A
Azevedo
Maria-Helena
MH
Klempan
Tim
T
Pato
Michele T
MT
Honer
William G
WG
Pato
Carlos N
CN
Van Tol
Hubert H M
HH
Kennedy
James L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010375:Pedigree; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D050827:Syntaxin 1
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C494212:STX1A protein, human; D050827:Syntaxin 1