Catechol O-methyltransferase polymorphism and eye tracking in schizophrenia: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined associations between functional polymorphism (Val(108/158) Met) in the catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and eye tracking measures in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Predictive pursuit and closed-loop gains of 62 patients with schizophrenia and 53 healthy comparison subjects with Val-Val, Val-Met, and Met-Met genotypes were compared.


RESULTS
There was a significant diagnosis-by-genotype interaction: patients with the Met-Met genotype showed poor predictive pursuit. The Met-Met genotype in healthy subjects was associated with significantly higher predictive pursuit gain values than the Val-Val genotype in healthy subjects. The COMT genotype explained about 10% of the variance in each group's predictive pursuit performance.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data suggest that the COMT gene is associated with predictive eye tracking performance in healthy subjects. Predictive pursuit abnormality in schizophrenia is not attributable to the Val allele. These findings suggest a complex interaction with other etiological factors (e.g., another gene), and/or with prefrontal cortical dopaminergic activity.
Thaker
Gunvant K
GK
MPRC, PO Box 21247, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA. gthaker@mprc.umaryland.edu
Wonodi
Ikwunga
I
Avila
Matthew T
MT
Hong
L Elliot
LE
Stine
O Colin
OC
D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011698:Pursuit, Smooth / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics
D008715:Methionine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D014633:Valine; D004298:Dopamine