title: Are exposure to cytomegalovirus and genetic variation on chromosome 6p joint risk factors for schizophrenia?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Published data support genetic variants, as well as certain infectious agents, as potential risk factors for schizophrenia. Less is known about interactions between the risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate exposure to infectious agents and host genetic variation as joint risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated four infectious agents: cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1, HSV2), and Toxoplasma gondii (TOX). We initially compared exposure using specific serum antibodies, among simplex and multiplex nuclear families (one or more than one affected offspring, respectively). If interactions between infectious agents and host genetic variation are important risk factors for schizophrenia, we reasoned that they would be more prominent among multiplex versus simplex families. We also evaluated the role of variation at chromosome 6p21-p23 in conjunction with exposure. We used 22 short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRPs) dispersed across this region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Though exposure to all four agents was increased among multiplex families versus simplex families, the difference was consistently significant only for CMV (odds of exposure to CMV in multiplex families: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.48-5.33). Transmission disequilibrium tests and case-control comparisons using STRPs revealed significant linkage/association with D6S2672 among CMV+ schizophrenia patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polymorphisms near D6S2672 could confer risk for schizophrenia in conjunction with CMV exposure.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
authors: Jung Jin
authors: JJ
authors: Kim
authors: Brian H
authors: BH
authors: Shirts
authors: Madhulika
authors: M
authors: Dayal
authors: Silviu-Alin
authors: SA
authors: Bacanu
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Wood
authors: Weiting
authors: W
authors: Xie
authors: Xiaohua
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: Kodavali V
authors: KV
authors: Chowdari
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Yolken
authors: Bernie
authors: B
authors: Devlin
authors: Vishwajit L
authors: VL
authors: Nimgaonkar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006680:HLA Antigens