Schizophrenia susceptibility genes: emergence of positional candidates and future directions.
Schizophrenia is a devastating psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. It is characterized by so-called 'positive symptoms'--including delusions and hallucinations--'negative symptoms'--including blunted emotions and social isolation--and cognitive deficits--including impairments in attention and working memory. Studies of the inheritance of schizophrenia have revealed that it is a multifactorial disease that is characterized by multiple genetic susceptibility elements, each contributing a modest degree of risk. Linkage studies have identified several potential schizophrenia susceptibility loci, and in recent years major progress has been made in the identification of positional candidate susceptibility genes from these loci. A central goal of future research will be to use this genetic knowledge to generate specific animal models, characterize genetic interactions, investigate the disease pathophysiology and assist drug-discovery efforts.
Gogos
Joseph A
JA
Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics and Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. jag90@columbia.edu
Gerber
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000074765:Dysbindin; D049029:Dystrophin-Associated Proteins; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011394:Proline Oxidase / Q000235:genetics; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C432416:DTNBP1 protein, human; D000074765:Dysbindin; D049029:Dystrophin-Associated Proteins; D020710:RGS Proteins; C098799:RGS4 protein; D011394:Proline Oxidase; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase