title: The gene encoding the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 is associated with schizophrenia in a Danish case-control sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The MCHR1 gene encoding the melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 is located on chromosome 22q13.2 and has previously been associated with schizophrenia in a study of cases and controls from the Faroe Islands and Scotland. Herein we report an association between variations in the MCHR1 gene and schizophrenia, based on analyses of a larger sample and an increased number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) than used in the previous study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen SNPs in the MCHR1 gene region were genotyped in a Caucasian case-control sample from Denmark consisting of 390 individuals with schizophrenia and 814 control individuals. Sex-specific analysis and analysis of association with antipsychotic treatment were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five SNPs in the proximal region of MCHR1 were significantly associated with schizophrenia. The associations seemed to be sex specific, predominantly seen in men where one SNP (rs133073) remained significant (P=0.003) after correction for multiple testing. When combining the P values in the proximal region of MCHR1, the region-wise P value was low (P=0.009) supporting that variations in this part of the gene is associated with schizophrenia. Furthermore, the association was stronger in patients responding to conventional and atypical antipsychotic medication except clozapine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that MCHR1 may influence schizophrenia susceptibility, in particular among men and patients responding to conventional (nonclozapine) treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Aarhus University, Århus, Denmark. ditte@humgen.au.dk
authors.forename: Ditte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Demontis
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyegaard
authors.forename: Jane H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Severinsen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedemand
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werge
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mors
authors.forename: Anders D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Børglum
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C103263:MCHR1 protein, human; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin