Association study of GABRG2 polymorphisms with suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia patients with alcohol use disorder.
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder where the role of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, has been implicated in its aetiopathophysiology. Several genes coding for GABAA subunits, including the GABRG2 gene that encodes the γ2 subunit, are clustered at 5q31-q35, a chromosomal region that is associated with schizophrenia in genome scan studies. We recently reported GABRG2 to be associated with schizophrenia in our case-control and family samples.


METHODS
We tested eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms spanning the GABRG2 gene for an association with suicidal behaviour in our schizophrenia sample of European ancestry (n = 197), taking into account history of alcohol abuse or dependence.


RESULTS
We found the haplotypes of the rs183294 and rs209356 markers to be significantly associated with history of suicide attempt (p < 0.01) as well as suicide specifier scores (p < 0.05). The association appeared to be originating in patients with a history of alcohol dependence or abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that GABRG2 may be involved in suicidal behaviour in schizophrenia patients with alcohol dependence or abuse, but replications are required. These results may help in the discovery of novel treatments for alcoholism and/or prevention of suicide.
Neurogenetics Section, Neuroscience Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Clement C
CC
Zai
Gwyneth C
GC
Zai
Arun K
AK
Tiwari
Mirko
M
Manchia
Vincenzo
V
de Luca
Sajid A
SA
Shaikh
John
J
Strauss
James L
JL
Kennedy
D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
C546279:GABRG2 protein, human; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A