title: No evidence for an association between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and schizophrenia or personality traits.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the nerve growth factor family, which plays a critical role in neurodevelopment. Based on the neurodevelopmental hypothesis, the BDNF gene has been a candidate locus for schizophrenia. In Caucasians, recent studies identified an association with the Val66Met polymorphism, which has been suggested to affect episodic memory and hippocampal function in humans. However, in other populations, the association has not been replicated. In the present study, we investigated the association between the Val66Met polymorphism of the gene and schizophrenia in 401 Japanese patients with schizophrenia and 569 controls. As a result, we did not observe a significant difference in genotypic distribution or allele frequencies between the patients and controls (chi2=0.56, df=2, p=0.76 and chi2=0.39, df=1, p=0.53, respectively). We also investigated the association between the polymorphism and personality traits in the controls; however, no significant association was observed. Thus, the present study did not provide evidence for an association between the BDNF gene and schizophrenia or personality traits in the Japanese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo113-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tochigi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otowa
authors.forename: Motomu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minato
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamasue
authors.forename: Kiyoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Nobumasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor