title: The dopamine b-hydroxylase 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism was associated with first-episode but not medicated chronic schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous studies report dysfunctional dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is an intracellular enzyme catalyzing the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. Functional polymorphisms have been reported in the promoter region of DBH gene, including a 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between the functional polymorphism (DBH5'-Ins/Del) and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This polymorphism was genotyped in 221 first-episode schizophrenics, 360 chronic schizophrenics and 318 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed their psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We showed that the DBH5'-Ins/Del deletion (Del) allelic and genotypic frequencies were significantly lower in controls than first-episode of schizophrenics (FES) (both p < 0.001), but controls were not different from chronic schizophrenics. Furthermore, the PANSS positive symptom and total scores were significantly higher in FES with the Del/Del genotype than those with Ins/Del and Ins/Ins genotypes (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DBH5'-Ins/Del polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to the positive symptoms of FES and to these FES not progressing on to chronic schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Diabetic Complication, The Second Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xu Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Yaqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: ShiLong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Da Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Xiu
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kosten
authors.forename: Xiang Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase