title: Association between the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and first-episode patients with schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a key enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system, can modulate dopamine turnover in the midbrain. Previous studies have revealed an association between ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and chronic schizophrenia, yet results are conflicting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to examine whether the ACE gene I/D polymorphism is associated with first-episode patients with schizophrenia (FEP) in a Chinese Han population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The presence of the polymorphism was determined in 220 FEP and 538 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed the psychopathology in 212 FEP using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allelic and genotypic frequencies of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism did not significantly differ between FEP and healthy controls (both p>0.05). However, the negative PANSS symptom was significantly higher in FEP with the D/D genotype than those with I/D and I/I genotypes (all p<0.05) even after Bonferroni corrections (all p<0.05). Furthermore, the D allele of the ACE gene was associated with higher negative PANSS symptom score in FEP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that even though the ACE gene I/D polymorphism did not associate with FEP, it may play a role in susceptibility to the negative PANSS symptom of FEP in a Chinese Han population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Kangning Mental Health, Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou, China; Research Center for Genomic Medicine and MH Radiobiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Jing Qin
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Wei Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Chang Gui
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Ya Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Meng Han
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Da Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiang Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
keywords: First-episode patients with schizophrenia; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale; angiotensin-converting enzyme; association; genetic polymorphism