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Chen CC, Howie J, Ebrahimi M, Teymouri K, Woo JJ, Tiwari AK, Zai CC, Kennedy JL. Analysis of the complement component C4 gene with schizophrenia subphenotypes. Schizophr Res 2024; 271:309-318. [PMID: 39084106 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The complement component C4 gene has been identified as a strong marker for schizophrenia (SCZ) risk. The C4 gene has a complex genetic structure consisting of variable structural elements (C4A, C4B, C4L, and C4S) and compound structural forms (C4AL, C4BL, C4AS and C4BS). In addition, the variations in C4 structural forms may have a direct or indirect effect on the brain expression level of C4A and C4B proteins. Previous studies have associated C4AL with higher brain C4A expression and sex-dimorphism of C4 between males and females was observed. STUDY DESIGN A total of 613 patients with DSM-IV SCZ or schizoaffective disorder (SCZ-AFF) were recruited to investigate the relationship between C4 gene variants and clinical characteristics of SCZ (age of onset, symptom severity, and global assessment of functioning (GAF)). This study also explored the effect of sex on the association of C4 with SCZ. 434 patients were included in the final analyses after genetic quality control. RESULTS We observed associations between C4 and clinical characteristics of SCZ (age of onset, symptom severity, GAF) and found significant differences when males and females were examined separately. CONCLUSION Overall, our preliminary findings encourage future investigations of C4 in SCZ-related phenotypes, including antipsychotic response and side effects. The study sample was of moderate size; therefore, further studies in larger samples are needed to extend and validate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng C Chen
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joshua Howie
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Mahbod Ebrahimi
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kowsar Teymouri
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia J Woo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arun K Tiwari
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Brain Science, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Caseras X, Simmonds E, Pardiñas AF, Anney R, Legge SE, Walters JTR, Harrison NA, O'Donovan MC, Escott-Price V. Common risk alleles for schizophrenia within the major histocompatibility complex predict white matter microstructure. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:194. [PMID: 38649377 PMCID: PMC11035599 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02910-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent research has highlighted the role of complement genes in shaping the microstructure of the brain during early development, and in contributing to common allele risk for Schizophrenia. We hypothesised that common risk variants for schizophrenia within complement genes will associate with structural changes in white matter microstructure within tracts innervating the frontal lobe. Results showed that risk alleles within the complement gene set, but also intergenic alleles, significantly predict axonal density in white matter tracts connecting frontal cortex with parietal, temporal and occipital cortices. Specifically, risk alleles within the Major Histocompatibility Complex region in chromosome 6 appeared to drive these associations. No significant associations were found for the orientation dispersion index. These results suggest that changes in axonal packing - but not in axonal coherence - determined by common risk alleles within the MHC genomic region - including variants related to the Complement system - appear as a potential neurobiological mechanism for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Caseras
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Emily Simmonds
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Dementia Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Antonio F Pardiñas
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Richard Anney
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sophie E Legge
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - James T R Walters
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Neil A Harrison
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael C O'Donovan
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Valentina Escott-Price
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Dementia Research Institute, London, UK
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3
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Jameei H, Rakesh D, Zalesky A, Cairns MJ, Reay WR, Wray NR, Di Biase MA. Linking Polygenic Risk of Schizophrenia to Variation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain Measures: A Comprehensive Systematic Review. Schizophr Bull 2024; 50:32-46. [PMID: 37354489 PMCID: PMC10754175 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Schizophrenia is highly heritable, with a polygenic effect of many genes conferring risk. Evidence on whether cumulative risk also predicts alterations in brain morphology and function is inconsistent. This systematic review examined evidence for schizophrenia polygenic risk score (sczPRS) associations with commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures. We expected consistent evidence to emerge for significant sczPRS associations with variation in structure and function, specifically in frontal, temporal, and insula cortices that are commonly implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology. STUDY DESIGN In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2013 and March 2022. Studies were screened against predetermined criteria and National Institutes of Health (NIH) quality assessment tools. STUDY RESULTS In total, 57 studies of T1-weighted structural, diffusion, and functional MRI were included (age range = 9-80 years, Nrange = 64-76 644). We observed moderate, albeit preliminary, evidence for higher sczPRS predicting global reductions in cortical thickness and widespread variation in functional connectivity, and to a lesser extent, region-specific reductions in frontal and temporal volume and thickness. Conversely, sczPRS does not predict whole-brain surface area or gray/white matter volume. Limited evidence emerged for sczPRS associations with diffusion tensor measures of white matter microstructure in a large community sample and smaller cohorts of children and young adults. These findings were broadly consistent across community and clinical populations. CONCLUSIONS Our review supports the hypothesis that schizophrenia is a disorder of disrupted within and between-region brain connectivity, and points to specific whole-brain and regional MRI metrics that may provide useful intermediate phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadis Jameei
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
| | - Divyangana Rakesh
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Murray J Cairns
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - William R Reay
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Naomi R Wray
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maria A Di Biase
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Corley E, Patlola SR, Laighneach A, Corvin A, McManus R, Kenyon M, Kelly JP, Mckernan DP, King S, Hallahan B, Mcdonald C, Morris DW, Donohoe G. Genetic and inflammatory effects on childhood trauma and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia and healthy participants. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:26-37. [PMID: 37748567 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have reported a negative association between exposure to childhood trauma, including physical neglect, and cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Childhood trauma has been found to influence immune functioning, which may contribute to the risk of schizophrenia and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that physical neglect is associated with cognitive ability, and that this association is mediated by a combined latent measure of inflammatory response, and moderated by higher genetic risk for schizophrenia. The study included 279 Irish participants, comprising 102 patients and 177 healthy participants. Structural equation modelling was used to perform mediation and moderation analyses. Inflammatory response was measured via basal plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, and cognitive performance was assessed across three domains: full-scale IQ, logical memory, and the emotion recognition task. Genetic variation for schizophrenia was estimated using a genome-wide polygenic score based on genome-wide association study summary statistics. The results showed that inflammatory response mediated the association between physical neglect and all measures of cognitive functioning, and explained considerably more variance than any of the inflammatory markers alone. Furthermore, genetic risk for schizophrenia was observed to moderate the direct pathway between physical neglect and measures of non-social cognitive functioning in both patient and healthy participants. However, genetic risk did not moderate the mediated pathway associated with inflammatory response. Therefore, we conclude that the mediating role of inflammatory response and the moderating role of higher genetic risk may independently influence the association between adverse early life experiences and cognitive function in patients and healthy participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Corley
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Saahithh Redddi Patlola
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Aodán Laighneach
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland; School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Aiden Corvin
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ross McManus
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marcus Kenyon
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - John P Kelly
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Declan P Mckernan
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Sinead King
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Brian Hallahan
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Colm Mcdonald
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland; School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- School of Psychology, University of Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition, and Genomics (NICOG), University of Galway, Ireland.
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Yu H, Ni P, Tian Y, Zhao L, Li M, Li X, Wei W, Wei J, Wang Q, Guo W, Deng W, Ma X, Coid J, Li T. Association of elevated levels of peripheral complement components with cortical thinning and impaired logical memory in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:79. [PMID: 37935744 PMCID: PMC10630449 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00409-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia has been linked to polymorphism in genes encoding components of the complement system, and hyperactive complement activity has been linked to immune dysfunction in schizophrenia patients. Whether and how specific complement components influence brain structure and cognition in the disease is unclear. Here we compared 52 drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 52 healthy controls in terms of levels of peripheral complement factors, cortical thickness (CT), logical memory and psychotic symptoms. We also explored the relationship between complement factors with CT, cognition and psychotic symptoms. Patients showed significantly higher levels of C1q, C4, factor B, factor H, and properdin in plasma. Among patients, higher levels of C3 in plasma were associated with worse memory recall, while higher levels of C4, factor B and factor H were associated with thinner sensory cortex. These findings link dysregulation of specific complement components to abnormal brain structure and cognition in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yu
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Peiyan Ni
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yang Tian
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liansheng Zhao
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Mingli Li
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaojing Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jinxue Wei
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wanjun Guo
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiaohong Ma
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jeremy Coid
- Psychiatric Laboratory and Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Tao Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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6
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Gangadin SS, Germann M, de Witte LD, Gelderman KA, Mandl RCW, Sommer IEC. Complement component 4A protein levels are negatively related to frontal volumes in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophr Res 2023; 261:6-14. [PMID: 37678145 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2023.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive C4A-gene expression may result in increased microglia-mediated synaptic pruning. As C4A overexpression is observed in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), this mechanism may account for the altered brain morphology (i.e. reduced volume and cortical thickness) and cognitive symptoms that characterize SSD. Therefore, this study investigates the association of C4A serum protein levels with brain morphology and cognition, and in particular whether this association differs between recent-onset SSD (n = 69) and HC (n = 40). METHODS Serum C4A protein levels were compared between groups. Main outcomes included total gray matter volume, mean cortical thickness and cognitive performance. Regression analysis on these outcomes included C4A level, group (SSD vs. HC), and C4A*Group interactions. All statistical tests were corrected for age, sex, BMI, and antipsychotic medication dose. Follow-up analyses were performed on separate brain regions and scores on cognitive sub-tasks. RESULTS The group difference in C4A levels was not statistically significant (p = 0.86). The main outcomes did not show a significant interaction effect (p > 0.13) or a C4A main effect (p > 0.27). Follow-up analyses revealed significant interaction effects for the left medial orbitofrontal and left frontal pole volumes (p < 0.001): C4A was negatively related to these volumes in SSD, but positively in HC. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that C4A was negatively related to - specifically - frontal brain volumes in SSD, but this relation was inverse for HC. The results support the hypothesis of complement-mediated brain volume reduction in SSD. The results also suggest that C4A has a differential association with brain morphology in SSD compared to HC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Gangadin
- University of Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - M Germann
- University of Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - L D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - K A Gelderman
- Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R C W Mandl
- University of Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - I E C Sommer
- University of Groningen, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
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Winterton A, Bettella F, de Lange AMG, Haram M, Steen NE, Westlye LT, Andreassen OA, Quintana DS. Oxytocin-pathway polygenic scores for severe mental disorders and metabolic phenotypes in the UK Biobank. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:599. [PMID: 34824196 PMCID: PMC8616952 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01725-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a neuromodulator and hormone that is typically associated with social cognition and behavior. In light of its purported effects on social cognition and behavior, research has investigated its potential as a treatment for psychiatric illnesses characterized by social dysfunction, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While the results of these trials have been mixed, more recent evidence suggests that the oxytocin system is also linked with cardiometabolic conditions for which individuals with severe mental disorders are at a higher risk for developing. To investigate whether the oxytocin system has a pleiotropic effect on the etiology of severe mental illness and cardiometabolic conditions, we explored oxytocin's role in the shared genetic liability of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, type-2 diabetes, and several phenotypes linked with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk using a polygenic pathway-specific approach. Analysis of a large sample with about 480,000 individuals (UK Biobank) revealed statistically significant associations across the range of phenotypes analyzed. By comparing these effects to those of polygenic scores calculated from 100 random gene sets, we also demonstrated the specificity of many of these significant results. Altogether, our results suggest that the shared effect of oxytocin-system dysfunction could help partially explain the co-occurrence of social and cardiometabolic dysfunction in severe mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Winterton
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Francesco Bettella
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marit Haram
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nils Eiel Steen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniel S Quintana
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- NevSom, Department of Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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