title: Is neuregulin 1 involved in determining cerebral volumes in schizophrenia? Preliminary results showing a decrease in superior temporal gyrus volume.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reduced left superior temporal gyrus (STG) volume is one of the most replicated imaging findings in schizophrenia. However, it remains unclear whether genes play any role in our understanding of such structural alteration. It has been proposed that Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) might be a promising gene involved in schizophrenia, because of its role in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity. In this study, the association between NRG1 and STG anatomy in patients with schizophrenia was explored for the first time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated a 1-year treated prevalence cohort of patients with schizophrenia in contact with the South Verona Community-Based Mental Health Service. A blood sample was collected for DNA extraction and brain structure was assessed with an MRI scan. A total of 27 subjects with schizophrenia underwent both assessments and were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated the association between the polymorphism SNP8NRG222662 (rs4623364) of NRG1 and volume of the STG. We found that patients homozygous for the C allele had reduced left STG gray and white matter volumes in comparison to those homozygous for the G allele (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study suggests that NRG1 may be involved in determining STG size in schizophrenia, and may play a role in the neurogenetic basis of the language disturbances seen in this disorder. However, due to our small sample size, the results should be regarded as preliminary and replicated in a larger sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. sarah.tosato @ univr.it
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tosato
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellani
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonetto
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggeri
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perlini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lasalvia
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marinelli
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rambaldelli
authors.forename: Doriana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cristofalo
authors.forename: Mariaelena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzarotto
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pozzi Mucelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tansella
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dazzan
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Forti
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brambilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D012946:Social Welfare; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020890:Neuregulin-1