CNR1、GAD1和BDNF基因多态性与云南傣族男性海洛因依赖的相关性分析

为了探讨大麻素受体1基因(Cannabinoid receptor 1,CNR1)3个SNP位点(rs6454674、rs1049353和rs806368)、谷氨酸脱羧酶1基因(Glutamate decarboxylase 1,GAD1)3个SNP位点(rs1978340、rs3791878和rs11542313)、脑源性神经营养因子基因(Brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)2个SNP位点(rs6265和rs13306221)与云南傣族男性海洛因依赖的相关性,文章采用病例对照关联分析,建立8-SNPs复合扩增体系,应用SNaPshot方法检测165例傣族男性海洛因依赖患者和170例健康傣族男性CNR1、GAD1和BDNF基因8个SNPs位点基因型,采用SPSS17.0、Haploview4.2、PHASE2.1和MDR软件进行统计学分析。结果显示,rs13306221基因型频率在海洛因依赖组和对照组中的差异具有统计学意义(P<0.025),海洛因依赖组rs6265 A等位基因显著高于对照组(P<0.05),由rs1978340-rs3791878-rs11542313构建的T-A-C、C-C-C、C-C-T和T-C-C单体型及rs6265-rs13306221构建的A-G单体型频率在海洛因依赖组及对照组中差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),海洛因依赖组T-A-C、C-C-T和A-G单体型频率明显高于对照组,GAD1基因rs1978340与rs3791878之间可能存在强协同的交互作用。结果表明,CNR1基因rs1049353多态性、GAD1基因rs1978340和rs11542313多态性以及BDNF基因rs6265和rs13306221多态性与云南傣族男性海洛因依赖相关联,并且携带rs6265 A等位基因的个体可能更容易对海洛因产生依赖。     

雌激素受体α(ESR1)基因PvuⅡ和XbaI位点基因多态性与HBV慢性感染的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨雌激素受体ESR1(Estrogen Receptor alpha gene)基因的PvuⅡ(rs2234693)和XbaI (rs9340799)两个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs)位点的基因多态性与乙型肝炎病毒HBV(Hepatitis B Virus)慢性感染的相关性,为控制HBV持续感染提供新的思路和科学依据。方法：选择107例慢性乙型病毒性肝炎患者为病例组及107例同期体检的健康人群为对照组,基于高分辨熔解曲线技术(High Resolution Melting,HRM)建立PCR-HRM分子诊断方法,检测其雌激素受体ESR1基因两个SNP位点rs2234693(T>C)和rs9340799(A>G)的基因多态性,并通过基因测序进一步验证,探讨上述两个SNP位点与HBV慢性感染的相关性。结果：病例组和健康对照组ESR1基因rs2234693(T>C)位点的基因型频率比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),而两组间rs2234693位点等位基因频率比较差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);病例组和健康对照组间ESR1基因rs9340799(A>G)位点的各基因型频率差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05),慢性乙肝病例组GG基因型明显升高,两组间rs9340799位点等位基因频率差异亦具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示rs9340799位点的G基因可增加HBV慢性感染的发病风险,A基因可降低HBV慢性感染的发病风险。结论：雌激素受体基因ESR1的rs9340799 (A>G)位点的GG基因型和G等位基因可能是HBV感染慢性化的遗传易感基因,GG基因型与HBV的慢性感染具有一定的相关性。     

雌激素受体α(ESR1)基因PvuⅡ和XbaⅠ位点基因多态性与HBV慢性感染的相关性研究

目的:探讨雌激素受体ESR1(Estrogen Receptor alpha gene)基因的PvuⅡ(rs2234693)和XbaⅠ (rs9340799)两个单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs)位点的基因多态性与乙型肝炎病毒HBV(Hepatitis B Virus)慢性感染的相关性,为控制HBV持续感染提供新的思路和科学依据。方法:选择107例慢性乙型病毒性肝炎患者为病例组及107例同期体检的健康人群为对照组,基于高分辨熔解曲线技术(High Resolution Melting,HRM)建立PCR-HRM分子诊断方法,检测其雌激素受体ESR1基因两个SNP位点rs2234693(TC)和rs9340799(AG)的基因多态性,并通过基因测序进一步验证,探讨上述两个SNP位点与HBV慢性感染的相关性。结果:病例组和健康对照组ESR1基因rs2234693(TC)位点的基因型频率比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),而两组间rs2234693位点等位基因频率比较差异没有统计学意义(P0.05);病例组和健康对照组间ESR1基因rs9340799(AG)位点的各基因型频率差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),慢性乙肝病例组GG基因型明显升高,两组间rs9340799位点等位基因频率差异亦具有统计学意义(P0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示rs9340799位点的G基因可增加HBV慢性感染的发病风险,A基因可降低HBV慢性感染的发病风险。结论:雌激素受体基因ESR1的rs9340799 (AG)位点的GG基因型和G等位基因可能是HBV感染慢性化的遗传易感基因,GG基因型与HBV的慢性感染具有一定的相关性。     

PRKAA1和UNC5CL基因位点多态性与胃癌的相关性研究

目的:研究PRKAA1和UNC5CL基因位点多态性与胃癌发病的关系。方法:以我院2014年1月~2016年12月收治的90例胃癌患者为观察组,选择同期在我院进行治疗的90例胃炎患者作为对照组。提取分析患者的全血DNA样品,对其PRKAA1和UNC5CL基因位点基因分型进行检测,并进行组间比较。结果:(1)与对照组比较,观察组PRKAA1基因的rs13361707位点的CC型基因出现频率、rs10074991位点的GG基因出现频率、rs10036575位点的TT基因出现频率均显著高于对照组,rs10036575位点的CT+CC基因出现频率显著低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。(2)观察组UNC5CL基因的rs2294693、rs742494位点的各基因分型的出现频率与对照组间比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:胃癌患者的发病与PRKAA1基因多态性表达有一定的相关性,当rs13361707位点为CC型、rs10074991位点为GG型、rs10036575位点为TT型时,胃癌的发病率增加,当rs10036575位点为CT+CC型时,胃癌发病率降低。而胃癌患者的发病与UNC5CL基因位点多态性表达无明显相关性。     

双相障碍抑郁发作及单相抑郁症患者血清T3、T4、TSH和BDNF水平的相关性分析

目的:分析双相障碍抑郁发作及单相抑郁症患者与血清三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)、甲状腺激素(TSH)和脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)水平的相关性。方法:选取2017年12月～2019年12月我院收治的120例抑郁症患者为研究对象,按照病情不同分为双相障碍抑郁发作组(n=50)、单相抑郁症组(n=70),同时选取同期于本院进行体检的30例健康者作为对照组,检测血清T3、T4、TSH和BDNF水平,并进行汉密尔顿抑郁(HAMD)量表评分,分析血清T3、T4、TSH和BDNF水平的相关性。结果:双相障碍抑郁发作组起病年龄低于单相抑郁症组(P0.05);治疗前双相障碍抑郁发作组和单相抑郁症组血清T3水平高于对照组,TSH、BDNF水平低于对照组(P0.05),双相障碍抑郁发作组血清T4水平高于对照组,单相抑郁症组和对照组血清T4水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),双相障碍抑郁发作组血清T4水平高于单相抑郁症组,TSH、BDNF水平低于单相抑郁症组(P0.05);治疗后双相障碍抑郁发作组和单相抑郁症组血清T4水平低于对照组,双相障碍抑郁发作组血清T4水平低于单相抑郁症组(P0.05),且三组血清T3、TSH、BDNF水平比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后双相障碍抑郁发作组认知障碍因子评分低于单相抑郁症组(P0.05);Spearman相关分析显示,血清T3、T4、TSH水平和HAMD评分与BDNF呈负相关,TSH水平与BDNF呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:抑郁症患者血清T3、T4、TSH和BDNF水平存在异常,可作为判断双相障碍抑郁发作及单相抑郁症的指标。     

VKORC1基因rs9923231及GGCX基因rs2592551位点多态性与新疆维吾尔族、汉族人群心源性脑栓塞的相关性研究

目的:探讨维生素K环氧化物还原酶复合体亚单位1(VKORC1)基因rs9923231及γ-谷氨酰羧化酶(GGCX)基因rs2592551位点多态性同新疆维吾尔族和汉族人群发生心源性脑栓塞的关系。方法:选取2017年1月至2018年10月曾就诊于新疆医科大学第六附属医院神经内科的维吾尔族和汉族散发性房颤致脑栓塞患者各50例做为病例组,同时选取非心源性脑卒中维吾尔族患者50名及汉族患者150名为对照组,从外周静脉血中提取基因组DNA,采用PCR-RFLP技术检测VKORC1基因rs9923231及GGCX基因rs2592551多态性位点在不同人群中的分布。结果:维吾尔族脑栓塞组及对照组VKORC1基因rs9923231多态性位点基因型频率分布差异有统计学意义(P0.05);汉族脑栓塞组及对照组VKORC1基因rs9923231多态性位点基因型频率的分布比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。GGCX基因rs2592551多态位点在汉族、维吾尔族脑栓塞组及对照组的分布差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:VKORC1基因rs9923231多态性可能与新疆维吾尔族人群心源性脑栓塞的发病有关,而与汉族人群无关;GGCX基因rs2592551多态性可能与维吾尔族及汉族人群心源性脑栓塞的发病均无关。     

CDH13基因两个单核苷酸多肽性位点与非小细胞肺癌发生发展的关系

探讨CDH13基因两个单核苷酸多肽性(SNP)位点(rs11646213和rs7195409)与非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)发生发展的关系。选取2015年6月~2016年6月我院收治的NSCLC患者100例作为观察组,选取同期健康体检人群100例作为对照组。采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测两组患者的CDH13基因启动子区域两个SNP位点(rs11646213,rs7195409);分析两个SNP位点在两组中的分布特征。观察组SNP位点rs11646213等位基因频率和基因型频率与对照组比较差异具有统计学意义(p0.05),观察组A等位基因频率明显低于对照组(76.2%vs 90.4%),差异具有统计学意义(p0.05);SNP位点rs7195409等位基因频率和基因型频率在临床Ⅰ+Ⅱ期和Ⅲ+Ⅳ期患者间比较差异具有统计学意义(p0.05),Ⅰ+Ⅱ期患者G等位基因频率明显高于Ⅲ+Ⅳ期患者(25.8%vs 12.4%),差异具有统计学意义(p0.05)。CDH13基因SNP位点rs11646213的A等位基因缺失可能与NSCLC发生启动有关,SNP位点rs7195409的G等位基因缺失可能与NSCLC的病情发展有关。     

新疆地区维吾尔族和汉族人群CaSR基因多态性与草酸钙肾结石关系的研究

目的:探讨新疆地区维吾尔族和汉族草酸钙结石与钙敏感受体(calcium sensitive receptor,Ca SR)基因多态性之间的关系。方法:选择398例临床确诊泌尿系草酸钙结石患者(200例维吾尔族,198例汉族)和399例正常对照者(200例维吾尔族,199例汉族),应用Sna Pshot方法对Ca SR基因两位点(rs1042636,rs1801726)的基因型及等位基因频率进行检测,并分析其与草酸钙结石发病的相关性以及对血钙、24 h尿钙水平的影响。结果:各组2个位点的基因型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。汉族结石组与汉族对照组及维吾尔族结石族与维吾尔族对照组rs1042636、rs1801726位点基因型分布及基因频率差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。维吾尔和汉族rs1042636基因型及等位基因频率比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05),且维吾尔族人群携带rs1042636等位基因A的风险高于汉族人群(病例组中OR值=2.145,%95CI=[1.602~2.866],P0.01;对照组中OR值=1.773,%95CI=[1.332~2.359],P0.01),其中维/汉病例组中等位基因频率分别为A=278(69.5%)/204(51.5%),G=122(30.5%)/192(48.5%);维/汉对照组中等位基因频率分别为A=264(66.0%)/208(52.3%),G=136(34.0%)/190(47.7%)。而病例组和对照组rs1801726基因型频率差异无统计学意义(P0.05);汉族病例组、对照组发现GG+AG基因型较AA基因型有较高的尿钙水平(病例组:P=0.007和对照组:P=0.006),维吾尔族人群该位点与两项指标无相关性。结论:Ca SR基因2个基因位点rs1042636、rs1801726可能不是新疆地区维吾尔族和汉族草酸钙结石发病的危险因子,两族rs1042636基因多态性分布存在差异,rs1042636位点基因多态性能影响汉族人群尿钙排泄,可能汉族调节钙排泄的遗传因素之一。     

IL-17A基因单核苷酸位点多态性与胃癌预后的相关性研究

探讨白介素17A基因多态性与胃癌预后的关系。129例研究对象纳入生存分析,分成死亡和存活两组,用基因测序的方法检测血液样本IL-17A基因SNP位点rs3748067、rs17880588基因型分布。rs3748067位点有3种基因型T/T、C/T、C/C,rs17880588位点有2种基因型A/G、G/G。比较存活组和死亡组之间的基因型分布频率和单点等位基因分布频率,发现rs3748067的基因型C/T在死亡组的分布频率较存活组高,基因型T/T和C/C在死亡组的分布频率低于存活组,两组之间分布频率差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。杂合型C/T基因型在存活组分布低于死亡组(OR=2.051,CI=0.016~1.420),该位点基因型杂合可能为胃癌预后的一种危险因素。rs17880588的两种基因型A/G、G/G在存活组和死亡组的分布频率差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:IL-17A基因rs3748067位点SNP与胃癌预后可能有相关性。     

LKB1基因多态性与2型糖尿病相关性研究

目的:探讨陕西汉族人群中LKB1基因位点rs741765(380CT)及rs6510599(459GA)单核苷酸多态性(SNPs)与2型糖尿病遗传易感性及相关临床代谢指标的关系。方法:采用等位基因特异性引物PCR(SASP-PCR)对2型糖尿病患者130例及健康对照组100例进行LKB1基因内含子6 rs741765(380CT)及内含子1 rs6510599(459GA)两个位点进行基因多态性筛查,并测序鉴定,分析其基因多态性位点与2型糖尿病临床代谢指标关系。结果:rs741765(380CT)基因突变情况:2型糖尿病患者TT基因型频率显著高于健康对照组(P=0.023);TT基因2型糖尿病组中糖化血红蛋白水平及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平在型中明显升高(P=0.030;P=0.002);健康对照组中,空腹血糖水平在TT基因型中明显升高(P=0.011)。rs6510599(459GA)基因突变情况:AA基因型频率在2型糖尿病组及健康对照组间无显著性差异(P0.05);该基因位点与临床指标亦无相关性(P0.05)。结论:陕西汉族人群中LKB1基因内含子6 rs741765(380CT)及内含子1 rs6510599(459GA)存在基因多态性。LKB1基因内含子6 rs741765(380CT)基因多态性与2型糖尿病的发病有相关性。LKB1基因内含子1 rs6510599(459GA)基因多态性与2型糖尿病的发病无相关性。     

Heroin addiction in African Americans: a hypothesis-driven association study

Heroin addiction is a chronic complex disease with a substantial genetic contribution. This study was designed to identify gene variants associated with heroin addiction in African Americans. The emphasis was on genes involved in reward modulation, behavioral control, cognitive function, signal transduction and stress response. We have performed a case–control association analysis by screening with 1350 variants of 130 genes. The sample consisted of 202 former severe heroin addicts in methadone treatment and 167 healthy controls with no history of drug abuse. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), haplotype and multi-SNP genotype pattern analyses were performed. Seventeen SNPs showed point-wise significant association with heroin addiction (nominal P < 0.01). These SNPs are from genes encoding several receptors: adrenergic ( ADRA1A ), arginine vasopressin ( AVPR1A ), cholinergic ( CHRM2 ), dopamine (DRD1 ), GABA-A ( GABRB3 ), glutamate ( GRIN2A ) and serotonin ( HTR3A ) as well as alcohol dehydrogenase ( ADH7 ), glutamic acid decarboxylase ( GAD1 and GAD2 ), the nucleoside transporter ( SLC29A1 ) and diazepam-binding inhibitor ( DBI ). The most significant result of the analyses was obtained for the GRIN2A haplotype G-A-T (rs4587976-rs1071502-rs1366076) with protective effect ( P _uncorrected = 9.6E- 05, P _corrected = 0.058). This study corroborates several reported associations with alcohol and drug addiction as well as other related disorders and extends the list of variants that may affect the development of heroin addiction. Further studies will be necessary to replicate these associations and to elucidate the roles of these variants in drug addiction vulnerability.     

Association of the glutamate receptor subunit gene GRIN2B with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

The glutamatergic signaling pathway represents an ideal candidate susceptibility system for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Disruption of specific N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptor subunit genes (GRIN1, 2A-D) in mice leads to significant alterations in cognitive and/or locomotor behavior including impairments in latent learning, spatial memory tasks and hyperactivity. Here, we tested for association of GRIN2B variants with ADHD, by genotyping nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 205 nuclear families identified through probands with ADHD. Transmission of alleles from heterozygous parents to affected offspring was examined using the transmission/disequilibrium test. Quantitative trait analyses for the ADHD symptom dimensions [inattentive (IA) and hyperactive/impulsive (HI)] and cognitive measures of verbal working memory and verbal short-term memory were performed using the fbat program. Three SNPs showed significantly biased transmission (P < 0.05), with the strongest evidence of association found for rs2,284,411 (chi(2)= 7.903, 1 degree of freedom, P= 0.005). Quantitative trait analyses showed associations of these markers with both the IA and the HI symptom dimensions of ADHD but not with the cognitive measures of verbal short-term memory or verbal working memory. Our data suggest an association between variations in the GRIN2B subunit gene and ADHD as measured categorically or as a quantitatively distributed trait.     

Lack of association of EGR2 variants with bipolar disorder in Japanese population

The early growth response gene 2 (EGR2) has been recently reported to be associated with bipolar disorder in the Korean population. However replication studies in independent cohorts of same and different ethnicities are essential for establishing the credibility of a genotype–phenotype association. With this notion, in the present study we have performed a replication study of the reported association of SNPs in EGR2 in a case–control study comprising of 867 unrelated Japanese bipolar disorder patients and 895 age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched controls. Results showed no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of EGR2 SNPs between bipolar disorder patients and controls and also in a sex-stratified genetic analysis. The haplotype and meta-analyses also showed no significant association with bipolar disorder. In conclusion, this is the first replication study of the previously reported association of EGR2 with bipolar disorder in a larger sample set and the results showed that the EGR2 gene is unlikely to contribute to the susceptibility of bipolar disorder in a Japanese cohort.     

Association of the DTNBP1 locus with schizophrenia in a U.S. population

Linkage and association studies have recently implicated dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1) in the etiology of schizophrenia. We analyzed seven previously tested DTNBP1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a cohort of 524 individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 573 control subjects. The minor alleles of three SNPs (P1578, P1763, and P1765) were positively associated with the diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the white subset of the study cohort (258 cases, 467 controls), with P1578 showing the most significant association (odds ratio 1.76, P =.0026). The same three SNPs were also associated in a smaller Hispanic subset (51 cases, 32 controls). No association was observed in the African American subset (215 cases, 74 controls). A stratified analysis of the white and Hispanic subsets showed association with the minor alleles of four SNPs (P1578, P1763, P1320, and P1765). Again, the most significant association was observed for P1578 (P =.0006). Haplotype analysis supported these findings, with a single risk haplotype significantly overrepresented in the white sample (P =.005). Our study provides further evidence for a role of the DTNBP1 gene in the genetic etiology of schizophrenia.     

Association of AKT1 gene variants and protein expression in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

The AKT1 gene has been associated with the genetic aetiology of schizophrenia. Following the overlap model of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, we aimed to investigate AKT1 genetic variants and protein expression in both diseases. A total of 679 subjects with European ancestry were included: 384 with schizophrenia, 130 with bipolar disorder and 165 controls. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were investigated for association with the diseases using single‐ and multi‐locus analyses. AKT1 and AKT2 protein levels were measured in post‐mortem brain tissues from ante‐mortem diagnosed schizophrenia (n = 30) and bipolar disorder subjects (n = 12) and matched controls. The analysis identified a significant global distortion in schizophrenia (P = 0.0026) and a weak association in bipolar disorder (P = 0.046). A sliding window procedure showed a five‐SNP haplotype (TCGAG) to be associated with schizophrenia (P = 1.22 × 10^?4) and bipolar disorder (P = 0.0041) and a four‐SNP haplotype (TCGA) with the combined sample (1.73 × 10^?5). On the basis of selected genotypes, a significant difference in protein expression emerged between subjects (P < 0.02). In conclusion, our findings, by showing the involvement of the AKT1 gene in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, support the role of AKT1 in the genetics of both disorders and add support to the view that there is some genetic overlap between them.     

Identification of sialyltransferase 8B as a generalized susceptibility gene for psychotic and mood disorders on chromosome 15q25-26

We previously identified a significant bipolar spectrum disorder linkage peak on 15q25-26 using 35 extended families with a broad clinical phenotype, including bipolar disorder (types I and II), recurrent unipolar depression and schizoaffective disorder. However, the specific gene(s) contributing to this signal had not been identified. By a fine mapping association study in an Australian case-control cohort (n?=?385), we find that the sialyltransferase 8B (ST8SIA2) gene, coding for an enzyme that glycosylates proteins involved in neuronal plasticity which has previously shown association to both schizophrenia and autism, is associated with increased risk to bipolar spectrum disorder. Nominal single point association was observed with SNPs in ST8SIA2 (rs4586379, P?=?0.0043; rs2168351, P?=?0.0045), and a specific risk haplotype was identified (frequency: bipolar vs controls?=?0.41 vs 0.31; χ(2)?=?6.46, P?=?0.011, OR?=?1.47). Over-representation of the specific risk haplotype was also observed in an Australian schizophrenia case-control cohort (n?=?256) (χ(2)?=?8.41, P?=?0.004, OR?=?1.82). Using GWAS data from the NIMH bipolar disorder (n?=?2055) and NIMH schizophrenia (n?=?2550) cohorts, the equivalent haplotype was significantly over-represented in bipolar disorder (χ(2)?=?5.91, P?=?0.015, OR?=?1.29), with the same direction of effect in schizophrenia, albeit non-significant (χ(2)?=?2.3, P?=?0.129, OR?=?1.09). We demonstrate marked down-regulation of ST8SIA2 gene expression across human brain development and show a significant haplotype×diagnosis effect on ST8SIA2 mRNA levels in adult cortex (ANOVA: F(1,87)?=?6.031, P?=?0.016). These findings suggest that variation the ST8SIA2 gene is associated with increased risk to mental illness, acting to restrict neuronal plasticity and disrupt early neuronal network formation, rendering the developing and adult brain more vulnerable to secondary genetic or environmental insults.     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and risk of schizophrenia: an association study and meta-analysis

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most widely distributed neurotrophin in the central nervous system (CNS), and performs many biological functions such as neural survival, differentiation, and plasticity. Previous studies have suggested that variants in the BDNF gene increase the risk of schizophrenia. In this study, we genotyped one (GT)n dinucleotide repeat and three SNPs (rs6265, rs2030324, and rs2883187) in a Chinese sample (617 cases and 672 controls). In addition, we performed an updated meta-analysis based on 16 population-based case-control studies examining association between rs6265 and schizophrenia. In single-locus analysis, no significant association was found between BDNF polymorphisms and schizophrenia in our subjects. The meta-analysis based on Asian and Caucasian subjects did not give positive result that rs6265 is associated with schizophrenia. However, haplotype analysis found a common four-locus haplotype is protective against schizophrenia (Case 3.1% vs Control 7%, p=0.0011). Our data provides evidence that BDNF is a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in Chinese subjects.     

Altered brain-derived neurotrophic factor blood levels and gene variability are associated with anorexia and bulimia

Murine models and association studies in eating disorder (ED) patients have shown a role for the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in eating behavior. Some studies have shown association of BDNF -270C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with bulimia nervosa (BN), while BDNF Val66Met variant has been shown to be associated with both BN and anorexia nervosa (AN). To further test the role of this neurotrophin in humans, we screened 36 SNPs in the BDNF gene and tested for their association with ED and plasma BDNF levels as a quantitative trait. We performed a family-based association study in 106 ED nuclear families and analyzed BDNF blood levels in 110 ED patients and in 50 sib pairs discordant for ED. The rs7124442T/rs11030102C/rs11030119G haplotype was found associated with high BDNF levels (mean BDNF TCG haplotype carriers = 43.6 ng/ml vs. mean others 23.0 ng/ml, P = 0.016) and BN (Z = 2.64; P recessive = 0.008), and the rs7934165A/270T haplotype was associated with AN (Z =-2.64; P additive = 0.008). The comparison of BDNF levels in 50 ED discordant sib pairs showed elevated plasma BDNF levels for the ED group (mean controls = 41.0 vs. mean ED = 52.7; P = 0.004). Our data strongly suggest that altered BDNF levels modulated by BDNF gene variability are associated with the susceptibility to ED, providing physiological evidence that BDNF plays a role in the development of AN and BN, and strongly arguing for its involvement in eating behavior and body weight regulation.     

SIRT1 gene, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the Japanese population: an association study

Several lines of evidence suggest that alterations in circadian rhythms might be associated with the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BP). A recent study reported that SIRT1 is a molecule that plays an important role in the circadian clock system. Therefore, to evaluate the association among the SIRT1 gene, schizophrenia and BP, we conducted a case-control study of Japanese population samples (1158 schizophrenia patients, 1008 BP patients and 2127 controls) with four tagging SNPs (rs12778366, rs2273773, rs4746720 and rs10997875) in the SIRT1 gene. Marker-trait association analysis was used to evaluate the allele and the genotype association with the χ(2) test, and haplotype association analysis was evaluated with a likelihood ratio test. We showed an association between rs4746720 in the SIRT1 gene and schizophrenia in the allele and the genotype analysis. However, the significance of these associations did not survive after Bonferroni's correction for multiple testing. On the other hand, the SIRT1 gene was associated with Japanese schizophrenia in a haplotype-wise analysis (global P(all markers) = 4.89 × 10(-15)). Also, four tagging SNPs in the SIRT1 gene were not associated with BP. In conclusion, the SIRT1 gene may play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in the Japanese population.