Genetic variation in the schizophrenia-risk gene neuregulin1 correlates with personality traits in healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Differences in personality traits have long been acknowledged as potential risk factors in developing psychiatric disorders. Lately, several susceptibility genes of different psychiatric disorders have been linked to personality traits. This has not been done for schizophrenia yet. Neuregulin1 has been repeatedly shown to be associated with schizophrenia and is involved in numerous neurodevelopmental functions such as neuronal migration and myelination. The impact of this gene might also modulate personality traits in healthy subjects.


METHODS
The NRG1 status of 523 healthy subjects was determined with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP8NRG221533) which has been described as a tagging marker being part of the core at-risk haplotype for schizophrenia. Genotype was correlated with personality traits using the NEO-FFI questionnaire.


RESULTS
Subjects with the NRG1 risk allele scored higher on neuroticism (p<.05) and lower on conscientiousness (p<.05). Further, interactions of genotype by gender for extraversion (p<.05), openness (p<.05) and conscientiousness (p<.05) were found with men carrying the risk allele scoring the lowest.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that the NRG1 gene which has found to be associated with schizophrenia may also influence personality differences in healthy subjects.
Krug
Axel
A
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. akrug@ukaachen.de
Markov
Valentin
V
Leube
Dirk
D
Zerres
Klaus
K
Eggermann
Thomas
T
Nöthen
Markus M
MM
Skowronek
Markus H
MH
Rietschel
Marcella
M
Kircher
Tilo
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*
C094131:NRG1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020890:Neuregulin-1