[Chromosome 22q11 and schizophrenia].
Several human chromosomal regions have been identified as candidate regions that play a role in schizophrenia. Deletion or duplication of chromosome 22q11 is associated with velo-cardio-facial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome (VCFS/DGS), a disorder associated with high rates of schizophrenia as well as physical abnormalities (i.e., cardiovascular, parathyroid, thymic and craniofacial abnormalities). Recent mouse studies have identified several candidate genes for VCFS/DGS within the mouse homologue chromosome 16. Deletion of Tbx1, Prodh and Comt within mouse chromosome 16 causes several physical and behavioral features of VCFS/DGS. As VCFS/DGS is likely to represent a genetic subtype of schizophrenia, pinpointing the genetic basis for this specific subtype will contribute to a better understanding of this neuropsychiatric disorder.
Agatsuma
Soh
S
Laboratory of Molecular Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Hiroi
Noboru
N
D000818:Animals; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics*; D004062:DiGeorge Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*