Preliminary evidence for linkage to chromosome 1q31-32, 10q23.3, and 16p13.3 in a South African cohort with bipolar disorder.
Although the genetic variants predisposing to the development of bipolar disorder (BPD) have yet to be conclusively identified, replicated reports of linkage to particular chromosomal regions have been encouraging. Here we carried out a non-parametric linkage analysis of nine of these candidate loci in a unique South African sample of 47 BPD pedigrees (N = 350). Three polymorphic markers per region of interest (3 x 9) were typed in a Caucasian cohort of Afrikaner and British origin. Statistically significant evidence for linkage was obtained at 1q31-32, 10q23.3, and 16p13.3 with maximum NPL scores of 2.52, 2.01, and 1.84, respectively. Our results add to the growing evidence that these chromosomal regions harbor genetic variants that play a role in the development of bipolar spectrum illness. Negative results were obtained for the remaining six candidate loci, possibly due to limited statistical power.
Savitz
Jonathan
J
Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. js@cormack.uct.ac.zn
Cupido
Cinda-Lee
CL
Ramesar
Raj Kumar
RK
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16; D015331:Cohort Studies; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics