title: Additive effect of NRG1 and DISC1 genes on lateral ventricle enlargement in first episode schizophrenia.
abstract: Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and Disrupted-in-schizophrenia (DISC1) genes, which are candidate genes for schizophrenia, are implicated in brain development. We have previously reported an association between the T allele of the rs6994992 SNP within NRG1 gene and lateral ventricle (LV) enlargement in first-episode schizophrenia patients. Moreover, transgenic mice with mutant DISC1 have also been reported as showing LV enlargement. In this study, we examined the possible interactive effects of NRG1 and DISC1 on brain volumes in a sample of first-episode schizophrenia patients. Ninety-one patients experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia underwent genotyping of three SNPs within DISC1 and structural brain MRI. These results were combined with our previously reported genotypes on three SNPs within NRG1. The T/T genotype of rs2793092 SNP in DISC1 was significantly associated with increased LV volume. However, taking into account the rs6994992 SNP in the NRG1 gene, which was also associated with LV volume in a previous study, the DISC1 SNP only predicted LV enlargement among those patients carrying the T allele in the NRG1 SNP. Those patients with the "at risk" allelic combinations in both genes had LV volumes which were 48% greater than those with none of the allelic combinations. Our findings suggest that NRG1 and DISC1 genes may be associated with brain abnormalities in schizophrenia through their influence on related pathways of brain development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain, CIBERSAM.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Iglesias
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roiz-Santiañez
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tordesillas-Gutierrez
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Mandly
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berja
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Barquero
authors.forename: Benedicto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crespo-Facorro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C412476:DISC1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020890:Neuregulin-1