title: Genetic interaction between alpha4 and beta2 subunits of high affinity nicotinic receptor: analysis in schizophrenia.
abstract: Cholinergic dysfunction is one of the hypotheses for the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Neurocognitive deficits, which are well-described clinical features of schizophrenia, may be remediated by nicotine; therefore investigations of nicotinic receptor subtypes is of considerable clinical interest. We typed polymorphisms in CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 genes controlling the expression of neuronal high-affinity nicotinic receptors in 117 Canadian families having at least one schizophrenic patient. Using a family-based association strategy, we performed allele, haplotype and interaction analysis of these two loci. In the families tested, the two cholinergic genes interact to affect schizophrenia in combination (P=0.010), while neither was sufficient alone to confer susceptibility. Our present study provided the first line of direct evidence suggesting that the CHRNA4 gene combined with CHRNB2 receptor gene may be linked to schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Neurogenetics Section, Clarke Site, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street R-30, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 1R8. vincenzo_deluca@camh.net
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Sophocles
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voineskos
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics; D002890:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic