Does COMT val158met polymorphism influence P50 sensory gating, eye tracking or saccadic inhibition dysfunctions in schizophrenia?
Three electrophysiological endophenotypes are routinely studied in schizophrenia (SCZ): smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) dysfunction, deficits in P50 auditory-evoked potential inhibition, and saccadic inhibition deficits. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between the COMT val158met polymorphism and these three endophenotypes. One hundred four SCZ patients (DSM-IV-R criteria) and 89 healthy controls were included in this study. P50 auditory-evoked potential inhibition, antisaccade paradigm and SPEM were analyzed. All individuals were genotyped for the COMT val158met. SCZ patients showed a higher rate of deficits measured by the SPEM, antisaccade and P50 inhibition paradigms without association with COMT val158met. However, in our control group, we have found an association between the Val polymorphism and the smoking status. More importantly, we have found a higher accuracy of saccades during the predictive pursuit task associated to the Met polymorphism in controls but not in SCZ patients who were receiving antidopaminergic medications. This result is in line with the hypothesis of the relationship between the Met polymorphism of the COMT gene, a higher level of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex and the role of the fronto-cerebellar loop in smooth predictive pursuit.
GénoPsy - Centre for the Detection and Management of Psychiatric Genetic Disorders Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier, Bron, UMR 5229 (CNRS & Lyon 1 University), France. Electronic address: caroline.demily@ch-le-vinatier.fr.
Caroline
C
Demily
Service de Gérontologie Clinique & Centre de la Mémoire, Centre de Gérontologie Clinique Rainier III, Principauté de Monaco, France. Electronic address: slouchart@chpg.mc.
Sandrine
S
Louchart-de-la-Chapelle
Centre Hospitalier Roger Prévost, Secteur 92 G 01, Moisselles, France. Electronic address: tatomdjap@gmail.com.
Irène
I
Nkam
INSERM U 894, Centre Psychiatry and neurosciences, Paris, France. Electronic address: nicolas.ramoz@inserm.fr.
Nicolas
N
Ramoz
Groupe d'Imagerie Neurofonctionnelle, Centre Cycéron, CNRS/CEA/Université de Caen/Université Paris V, UMR 6095, Bd H. Becquerel, Caen, France. Electronic address: pierre.denise@unicaen.fr.
Pierre
P
Denise
Unité Michel Jouvet, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier, Bron, France. Electronic address: alain.nicolas@ch-le-vinatier.fr.
Alain
A
Nicolas
Service de Biostatistiques, CHU Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France. Electronic address: savalle.caroline@voila.fr.
Caroline
C
Savalle
Dept of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cochin (Site Tarnier), University Sorbonne-Paris Cité(Faculty of Medicine Paris Descartes), INSERM U 894, CPN, Paris, France. Electronic address: florence.thibaut@aphp.fr.
Florence
F
Thibaut
D000328:Adult; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D058068:Endophenotypes; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055139:Sensory Gating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
C588010:COMT protein, human; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Association studies; COMT gene polymorphism; Electrophysiology; Endophenotypes; Eye movements; P50 auditory-evoked potential; Schizophrenia; Smoking status