Association of AKT1 with schizophrenia confirmed in a Japanese population.
BACKGROUND
Abnormality of the V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homologue 1 (AKT1) may be a predisposing factor in schizophrenia. Recent evidence supporting this hypothesis showed decreased AKT1 protein levels in patients with schizophrenia and significant association of AKT1 haplotypes according to the transmission disequilibrium test.


METHODS
We provide the first replication of this evidence using a relatively large case-control sample (507 Japanese schizophrenia and 437 control subjects). We genotyped five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the original study and one additional SNP.


RESULTS
We found a positive association with an SNP (SNP5) different from the original study's findings (SNP3) and also significance in the haplotypes constructed from the combination of SNP5. Linkage disequilibrium around SNP5 was complex and may produce this positive association.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides support for the theory that AKT1 is a susceptibility gene for Japanese schizophrenia. Fine linkage disequilibrium mapping is required for a conclusive result.
Ikeda
Masashi
M
Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
Iwata
Nakao
N
Suzuki
Tatsuyo
T
Kitajima
Tsuyoshi
T
Yamanouchi
Yoshio
Y
Kinoshita
Yoko
Y
Inada
Toshiya
T
Ozaki
Norio
N
D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt