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Zhong Y, Tubbs JD, Leung PBM, Zhan N, Hui TCK, Ho KKY, Hung KSY, Cheung EFC, So HC, Lui SSY, Sham PC. Early-onset schizophrenia is associated with immune-related rare variants in a Chinese sample. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.21.23298115. [PMID: 38045317 PMCID: PMC10690336 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.23298115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Rare variants are likely to contribute to schizophrenia (SCZ), given the large discrepancy between the heritability estimated from twin and GWAS studies. Furthermore, the nature of the rare-variant contribution to SCZ may vary with the "age-at-onset" (AAO), since early-onset has been suggested as being indicative of neurodevelopment deviance. Objective To examine the association of rare deleterious coding variants in early- and adult-onset SCZ in a Chinese sample. Method Exome sequencing was performed on DNA from 197 patients with SCZ spectrum disorder and 82 healthy controls (HC) of Chinese ancestry recruited in Hong Kong. We also gathered AAO information in the majority of SCZ samples. Patients were classified into early-onset (EOS, AAO<18) and adult-onset (AOS, AAO>18). We collapsed the rare variants to improve statistical power and examined the overall association of rare variants in SCZ versus HC, EOS versus HC, and AOS versus HC at the gene and gene-set levels by Sequence Kernel Association Test. The quantitative rare-variant association test of AAO was also conducted. We focused on variants which were predicted to have a medium or high impact on the protein-encoding process as defined by Ensembl. We applied a 100000-time permutation test to obtain empirical p-values, with significance threshold set at p < 1e -3 to control family-wise error rates. Moreover, we compared the burden of targeted rare variants in significant risk genes and gene sets in cases and controls. Results Based on several binary-trait association tests (i.e., SCZ vs HC, EOS vs HC and AOS vs HC), we identified 7 candidate risk genes and 20 gene ontology biological processes (GOBP) terms, which exhibited higher burdens in SCZ than in controls. Based on quantitative rare-variant association tests, we found that alterations in 5 candidate risk genes and 7 GOBP pathways were significantly correlated with AAO. Based on biological and functional profiles of the candidate risk genes and gene sets, our findings suggested that, in addition to the involvement of perturbations in neural systems in SCZ in general, altered immune responses may be specifically implicated in EOS. Conclusion Disrupted immune responses may exacerbate abnormal perturbations during neurodevelopment and trigger the early onset of SCZ. We provided evidence of rare variants increasing SCZ risk in the Chinese population.
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Goh XX, Tang PY, Tee SF. Meta-analysis of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptors in severe mental illnesses. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:180-190. [PMID: 37515950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF), as an innate immune defense molecule, functions through binding to TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) or TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2). Peripheral levels of soluble TNFR1 (sTNFR1) and soluble TNFR2 (sTNFR2) were widely measured in severe mental illnesses (SMIs) including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) but inconsistencies existed. Hence, the present meta-analysis was conducted to identify the overall association between plasma/serum sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels and SMIs. Published studies were searched using Pubmed and Scopus. Data were analysed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2. Hedges's g effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were pooled using fixed-effect or random-effects models. Heterogeneity, publication bias and study quality were assessed. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were performed. Our findings revealed that sTNFR1 level was significantly higher in SMI, particularly in BD. The sTNFR2 level significantly elevated in SMI but with smaller effect size. These findings further support the association between altered immune system and inflammatory abnormalities in SMI, especially in patients with BD. Subgroup analysis showed that younger age of onset, longer illness duration and psychotropic medication raised both sTNFR levels, especially sTNFR1, as these factors may contribute to the activation of inflammation. Future studies were suggested to identify the causality between TNFR pathway and SCZ, BD and MDD respectively using homogenous group of each SMI, and to determine the longitudinal effect of each psychotropic medication on TNFR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Xin Goh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Cheras, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia
| | - Pek Yee Tang
- Department of Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Cheras, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia
| | - Shiau Foon Tee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Bandar Sungai Long, Cheras, 43000, Kajang, Malaysia.
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Zhan N, Sham PC, So HC, Lui SSY. The genetic basis of onset age in schizophrenia: evidence and models. Front Genet 2023; 14:1163361. [PMID: 37441552 PMCID: PMC10333597 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1163361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heritable neurocognitive disorder affecting about 1% of the population, and usually has an onset age at around 21-25 in males and 25-30 in females. Recent advances in genetics have helped to identify many common and rare variants for the liability to schizophrenia. Earlier evidence appeared to suggest that younger onset age is associated with higher genetic liability to schizophrenia. Clinical longitudinal research also found that early and very-early onset schizophrenia are associated with poor clinical, neurocognitive, and functional profiles. A recent study reported a heritability of 0.33 for schizophrenia onset age, but the genetic basis of this trait in schizophrenia remains elusive. In the pre-Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) era, genetic loci found to be associated with onset age were seldom replicated. In the post-Genome-Wide Association Study era, new conceptual frameworks are needed to clarify the role of onset age in genetic research in schizophrenia, and to identify its genetic basis. In this review, we first discussed the potential of onset age as a characterizing/subtyping feature for psychosis, and as an important phenotypic dimension of schizophrenia. Second, we reviewed the methods, samples, findings and limitations of previous genetic research on onset age in schizophrenia. Third, we discussed a potential conceptual framework for studying the genetic basis of onset age, as well as the concepts of susceptibility, modifier, and "mixed" genes. Fourth, we discussed the limitations of this review. Lastly, we discussed the potential clinical implications for genetic research of onset age of schizophrenia, and how future research can unveil the potential mechanisms for this trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pak C. Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre of PanorOmic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hon-Cheong So
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
- Margaret K. L. Cheung Research Centre for Management of Parkinsonism, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Simon S. Y. Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Ohnuma T, Nishimon S, Takeda M, Sannohe T, Katsuta N, Arai H. Carbonyl Stress and Microinflammation-Related Molecules as Potential Biomarkers in Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:82. [PMID: 29593588 PMCID: PMC5859354 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This literature review primarily aims to summarize our research, comprising both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and discuss the possibility of using microinflammation-related biomarkers as peripheral biomarkers in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with schizophrenia. To date, several studies have been conducted on peripheral biomarkers to recognize the potential markers for the diagnosis of schizophrenia and to determine the state and effects of therapy in patients with schizophrenia. Research has established a correlation between carbonyl stress, an environmental factor, and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia. In addition, studies on biomarkers related to these stresses have achieved results that are either replicable or exhibit consistent increases or decreases in patients with schizophrenia. For instance, pentosidine, an advanced glycation end product (AGE), is considerably elevated in patients with schizophrenia; however, low levels of vitamin B6 [a detoxifier of reactive carbonyl compounds (RCOs)] have also been reported in some patients with schizophrenia. Another study on peripheral markers of carbonyl stress in patients with schizophrenia revealed a correlation of higher levels of glyceraldehyde-derived AGEs with higher neurotoxicity and lower levels of soluble receptors capable of diminishing the effects of AGEs. Furthermore, studies on evoked microinflammation-related biomarkers (e.g., soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) have reported relatively consistent results, suggesting the involvement of microinflammation in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We believe that our cross-sectional and longitudinal studies as well as various previous inflammation marker studies that could be interpreted from several perspectives, such as mild localized encephalitis and microvascular disturbance, highlighted the importance of early intervention as prevention and distinguished the possible exclusion of inflammations in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohru Ohnuma
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shohei Nishimon
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mayu Takeda
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Sannohe
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Narimasa Katsuta
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Heii Arai
- Juntendo University Schizophrenia Projects (JUSP), Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
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Wassink TH, Epping EA, Rudd D, Axelsen M, Ziebell S, Fleming FW, Monson E, Ho BC, Andreasen NC. Influence of ZNF804a on brain structure volumes and symptom severity in individuals with schizophrenia. ARCHIVES OF GENERAL PSYCHIATRY 2012; 69:885-92. [PMID: 22945618 PMCID: PMC3852666 DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.2116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1344706 in the gene ZNF804a has been associated with schizophrenia and with quantitative phenotypic features, including brain structure volume and the core symptoms of schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations of rs1344706 with brain structure and the core symptoms of schizophrenia. DESIGN Case-control analysis of covariance. SETTING University-based research hospital. PARTICIPANTS Volunteer sample of 335 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (306 with core schizophrenia) and 198 healthy volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Cerebral cortical gray matter and white matter (WM) volumes (total and frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes), lateral ventricular cerebrospinal fluid volume, and symptom severity from the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms divided into 3 domains: psychotic, negative, and disorganized. RESULTS The rs1344706 genotype produced significant main effects on total, frontal, and parietal lobe WM volumes (F = 3.98, P = .02; F = 4.95, P = .007; and F = 3.08, P = .05, respectively). In the schizophrenia group, rs1344706 produced significant simple effects on total (F = 3.93, P = .02) and frontal WM volumes (F = 7.16, P < .001) and on psychotic symptom severity (F = 6.07, P = .003); the pattern of effects was concordant with risk allele carriers having larger volumes and more severe symptoms of disease than nonrisk homozygotes. In the healthy volunteer group, risk allele homozygotes had increased total WM volume compared with nonrisk allele carriers (F = 4.61, P = .03), replicating a previously reported association. CONCLUSIONS A growing body of evidence suggests that the risk allele of rs1347706 is associated with a distinctive set of phenotypic features in healthy volunteers and individuals with schizophrenia. Our study supports this assertion by finding that specific genotypes of the polymorphism are associated with brain structure volumes in individuals with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers and with symptom severity in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H Wassink
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Huang JX, Wang L, Jiang MH. TNFRSF11B computational development network construction and analysis between frontal cortex of HIV encephalitis (HIVE) and HIVE-control patients. JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION-LONDON 2010; 7:50. [PMID: 20920282 PMCID: PMC2959006 DOI: 10.1186/1476-9255-7-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TNFRSF11B computational development network construction and analysis of frontal cortex of HIV encephalitis (HIVE) is very useful to identify novel markers and potential targets for prognosis and therapy. METHODS By integration of gene regulatory network infer (GRNInfer) and the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID) we identified and constructed significant molecule TNFRSF11B development network from 12 frontal cortex of HIVE-control patients and 16 HIVE in the same GEO Dataset GDS1726. RESULTS Our result verified TNFRSF11B developmental process only in the downstream of frontal cortex of HIVE-control patients (BST2, DGKG, GAS1, PDCD4, TGFBR3, VEZF1 inhibition), whereas in the upstream of frontal cortex of HIVE (DGKG, PDCD4 activation) and downstream (CFDP1, DGKG, GAS1, PAX6 activation; BST2, PDCD4, TGFBR3, VEZF1 inhibition). Importantly, we datamined that TNFRSF11B development cluster of HIVE is involved in T-cell mediated immunity, cell projection organization and cell motion (only in HIVE terms) without apoptosis, plasma membrane and kinase activity (only in HIVE-control patients terms), the condition is vital to inflammation, brain morphology and cognition impairment of HIVE. Our result demonstrated that common terms in both HIVE-control patients and HIVE include developmental process, signal transduction, negative regulation of cell proliferation, RNA-binding, zinc-finger, cell development, positive regulation of biological process and cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS We deduced the stronger TNFRSF11B development network in HIVE consistent with our number computation. It would be necessary of the stronger TNFRSF11B development function to inflammation, brain morphology and cognition of HIVE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju X Huang
- Biomedical Center, School of Electronics Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, 100876, China
| | - L Wang
- Biomedical Center, School of Electronics Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, 100876, China
| | - Ming H Jiang
- Lab of Computational Linguistics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tsinghua Univ., Beijing, 100084, China
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Association of the Met-196-Arg Variation of Human Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 (TNFR2) with Paranoid Schizophrenia. J Mol Neurosci 2010; 43:358-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-010-9450-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Accepted: 09/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Kaymaz N, van Os J. Heritability of Structural Brain Traits. NOVEL APPROACHES TO STUDYING BASAL GANGLIA AND RELATED NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS 2009; 89:85-130. [DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(09)89005-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder, caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Recently, studies have focused on testing specific genetic markers in a known candidate gene for association with endophenotypes. These are measurable characteristics of a disorder that are assumed to be closer to the action of the gene, resulting in higher genetic signal-to-noise ratios. Structural brain parameters have been shown to be useful endophenotypes for studies in psychiatric illnesses. RECENT FINDINGS After reviewing the available studies on the influence of genotype on brain volume in schizophrenia, it is evident that the BDNF and COMT genes are clearly favourites for genetic imaging studies. Results from these studies seem to be quite consistent, with the same associated alleles and direction of brain volume changes. The most frequently investigated polymorphisms suggest that sample sizes of approximately 50-100 patients are sufficient to report consistent findings. Considering the ongoing discussion about the sample size necessary to detect significant associations, however, larger sample sizes are needed. SUMMARY There is sufficient evidence to defend the use of structural neuroimaging as an endophenotype to investigate a complex phenotype such as schizophrenia despite the notion that, so far, no single causal pathway emerges from these studies. Replication studies and larger numbers of patients are essential in this respect.
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Papiol S, Molina V, Desco M, Rosa A, Reig S, Gispert JD, Sanz J, Palomo T, Fañanás L. Ventricular enlargement in schizophrenia is associated with a genetic polymorphism at the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene. Neuroimage 2005; 27:1002-6. [PMID: 16019233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2005] [Revised: 04/09/2005] [Accepted: 05/20/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown some morphological and volumetric peculiarities in brains of schizophrenic patients. The authors explored the influence of genetic polymorphisms at interleukin-1beta (IL-1B) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) genes on these abnormalities. Hippocampus, lateral ventricles, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter volumes were measured in a sample of 23 DSM-IV diagnosed schizophrenic patients of Spanish origin using MRI scans; MRI data were adjusted for age and brain volume using regression parameters from a healthy control group (n = 45). IL-1B and IL-1RN genes, involved in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative processes, were analyzed in the patient sample. Patients carrying VNTR-allele*2 of IL-1RN gene showed a significant enlargement of both left (P = 0.002) and right (P = 0.01) ventricles. Sex and illness duration were controlled for in the analyses. Our results, though preliminary, suggest that IL-1RN gene might contribute to the ventricular volumetric changes observed in schizophrenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Papiol
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Kampman O, Anttila S, Illi A, Mattila KM, Rontu R, Leinonen E, Lehtimäki T. Interaction of tumor necrosis alpha - G308A and epidermal growth factor gene polymorphisms in early-onset schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2005; 255:279-83. [PMID: 15614591 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-004-0560-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2004] [Accepted: 10/11/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The study population comprised 94 Finnish patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia. The patients were placed into two subgroups according to medication response to conventional neuroleptics. The aim of the study was to examine the frequency of tumor necrosis factor -308 (G > A) polymorphism in these patients and their 98 control subjects who were age- and gender-matched blood donors. Associations between TNFalpha -308 polymorphism alone and between the interaction of TNFalpha and epidermal growth factor gene polymorphisms, and medication response and age at onset of schizophrenia were also studied. The frequencies of TNFalpha A-allele were 11.7 % in patients and 12.8% in controls. The difference was not significant (p = 0.75). TNFalpha -308 polymorphism was not associated with medication response. However, patients with EGF AA and TNFalpha AG/AA genotype had a lower age at onset of schizophrenia compared with the rest of the patients not having this combination (20.0 years, 3.3 vs. 30.2 years, 10.1 mean + SD; p < 0.001). The results support earlier findings according to which TNFalpha polymorphism is not associated with the incidence of schizophrenia. On the other hand, the role of cytokines in schizophrenia may involve genetic interactions predisposing early onset of illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olli Kampman
- University of Tampere, Medical School, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the nature of the relationship between schizophrenia-like psychosis and narcolepsy. BACKGROUND A relationship between schizophrenia and narcolepsy has long been postulated due to the association of schizophrenia-like psychosis with narcolepsy and its treatment. METHOD We report two patients who presented with schizophrenia-like psychosis of narcolepsy and review the literature regarding possible shared neurobiology between the two disorders that might explain their co-occurrence. RESULTS There appears to be little in the way of common pathology between these two conditions when symptoms, human leukocyte antigen associations, rapid eye movement sleep architecture, D2-dopamine receptor changes, and hypocretinergic function are examined. CONCLUSIONS The available literature suggests that schizophrenia-like psychosis in narcolepsy is most commonly medication related or a chance co-occurrence, with limited evidence for a separate psychosis of narcolepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Walterfang
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Ho BC, Wassink TH, O'Leary DS, Sheffield VC, Andreasen NC. Catechol-O-methyl transferase Val158Met gene polymorphism in schizophrenia: working memory, frontal lobe MRI morphology and frontal cerebral blood flow. Mol Psychiatry 2005; 10:229, 287-98. [PMID: 15668720 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) gene is considered a leading schizophrenia candidate gene. Although its role in increasing schizophrenia susceptibility has been conflicting, recent studies suggest the valine allele may contribute to poor cognitive function in schizophrenia. V(158)M COMT genotype was obtained on 159 schizophrenia patients and 84 healthy controls. The effects of COMT genotype on four measures of working memory/executive functions (Wisconsin Card Sorting, digit span backward, Trail Making and N-back tests) and on MRI frontal brain volumes were examined. Genotype distributions were not significantly different between patients and controls. There were no significant genotype or genotype-by-group effects on any working memory/executive function measures. No genotype or genotype-by-diagnosis interaction effects were found with MRI frontal lobe volumes. Randomization analyses using [(15)O]H(2)O positron emission tomography (PET) cerebral blood flow data found Val/Val patients had higher frontal lobe activation than Met/Met patients while performing the one-back task. Overall, these findings do not support a major role for COMT in increasing susceptibility for schizophrenia or in mediating frontal lobe function. Age-related changes and phenotypic heterogeneity of schizophrenia may influence the complex relationships between COMT genotype and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- B-C Ho
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52252, USA.
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Duan S, Xu Y, Chen W, Liu Z, Guo T, Gao J, Bian L, Zheng Y, Zhen Y, Li X, Zhang X, Pan Y, Gu N, Feng G, He L. No association between the promoter variants of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and schizophrenia in Chinese Han population. Neurosci Lett 2004; 366:139-43. [PMID: 15276234 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2004] [Revised: 05/10/2004] [Accepted: 05/10/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
An increasing amount of evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is associated with activation of the immune system. Four studies have established an association of -308G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes, with schizophrenia [Mol. Psychiatry 6 (2001) 79; Mol. Psychiatry 8 (2003) 718; Schizophr. Res. 65 (2003) 19; Biol. Psychiatry 54 (2003) 1205]. In the present study, however, no significant positive association has been found between any individual SNP or haplotype constituted of the five promoter polymorphisms (-1031T/C, -863C/A, -857C/T, -308G/A and -238G/A) in the human TNF-alpha gene and schizophrenia (314 Chinese Han schizophrenic patients and 340 healthy control). A meta-analysis we did in this work, which is based on previous nine studies plus our own unpublished data including a total of 2399 schizophrenic patients (sporadic cases 2099, familial cases >505) and more than 3261 controls, failed to show significant difference of -308G/A distribution between patients and controls in both the whole sample and the pooled Asian sample. By contraries, the significant results in the pooled Caucasian sample imply an ethnic heterogeneity in -308G/A variation in the TNF-alpha gene in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Duan
- Bio-X Life Science Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
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Gilmore JH, Fredrik Jarskog L, Vadlamudi S, Lauder JM. Prenatal infection and risk for schizophrenia: IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha inhibit cortical neuron dendrite development. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004; 29:1221-9. [PMID: 15085088 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infection increases risk for schizophrenia, and we have hypothesized that inflammatory cytokines, generated in response to maternal infection, alter neuron development and increase risk for schizophrenia. We sought to study the effect of cytokines generated in response to infection-interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)-on the dendritic development of cortical neurons. Primary mixed neuronal cultures were obtained from E18 rats and exposed to 0, 100, or 1000 units (U)/ml of IL-1beta, TNFalpha, IL-6, or IL-1beta+TNFalpha for 44 h. MAP-2-positive neurons were randomly identified for each condition and the number of primary dendrites, nodes, and total dendrite length was determined. We found that 100 U of TNFalpha significantly reduced the number of nodes (27%, p=0.02) and total dendritic length (14%, p=0.04), but did not affect overall neuron survival. A measure of 100 U IL-1beta+TNFalpha significantly reduced the number of primary dendrites (17%, p=0.006), nodes (32%, p=0.001), and total dendritic length (30%, p<0.0001), although it did not affect overall neuron survival. At 1000 U, each cytokine significantly reduced the number of primary dendrites (14-24%), nodes (28-37%), as well as total dendritic length (25-30%); neuron survival was reduced by 14-21%. These results indicate that inflammatory cytokines can significantly reduce dendrite development and complexity of developing cortical neurons, consistent with the neuropathology of schizophrenia. These findings also support the hypothesis that cytokines play a key mechanistic role in the link between prenatal exposure to infection and risk for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- John H Gilmore
- UNC Schizophrenia Research Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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Schwab SG, Mondabon S, Knapp M, Albus M, Hallmayer J, Borrmann-Hassenbach M, Trixler M, Gross M, Schulze TG, Rietschel M, Lerer B, Maier W, Wildenauer DB. Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -G308A polymorphism with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2003; 65:19-25. [PMID: 14623370 DOI: 10.1016/s0920-9964(02)00534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The chromosomal location in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region on 6p21.1-21.3, a region with evidence for linkage, suggests a role in susceptibility to schizophrenia. Association of the minor (A) allele of the -G308A TNFalpha gene polymorphism with schizophrenia has been reported [Mol. Psychiatry 6 (2001) 79]. METHODS Association of the -G308A TNFalpha gene and the lymphotoxin alpha (LTalpha)+A252G gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia was studied in 79 sib pair families with linkage in the MHC region and in 128 trio families using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT). RESULTS Weak association of the common G allele was detected for TNFalpha -G308A in both samples independently with borderline significance in the sib pair families (0.064) and with a nominally significant value of P=0.022 in the trio families. Combining both samples produced P=0.003, while LTalpha+A252G, located approximately 2-3 kb distally, revealed P=0.03 and the two locus haplotype yielded a P value of 0.001. CONCLUSION Our data suggests association of the common G allele of the -G308A TNFalpha gene polymorphism with schizophrenia in a sample of 207 families. However, linkage disequilibrium with a different allele of the TNFalpha gene or another gene in the MHC region cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle G Schwab
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Wilhelmstr. 31, D-53111 Bonn, Germany
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Boksa P, Luheshi GN. On the use of animal modeling to study maternal infection during pregnancy and prenatal cytokine exposure as risk factors for schizophrenia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cnr.2003.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Tsai SJ, Hong CJ, Yu YWY, Lin CH, Liu LL. No association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia or response to clozapine. Schizophr Res 2003; 65:27-32. [PMID: 14623371 DOI: 10.1016/s0920-9964(02)00531-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a potent immunomodulator and proinflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in schizophrenia pathogenesis and clozapine response. Two studies have established an association between schizophrenia and the TNF-alpha gene -308G/A polymorphism; however, both increased and decreased -308A allele frequency have been reported in two analogous investigations. The present study examined the hypothesis that the TNF-alpha gene -308G/A polymorphism confers susceptibility to schizophrenia in 205 patients with schizophrenia compared with 192 controls. A subgroup of 99 clozapine-treated schizophrenia patients was also tested for the genetic effects of this polymorphism, as evidenced by clinical manifestation, and clozapine-related therapeutic outcome and body-weight change. The results of these investigations suggest that the TNF-alpha gene -308G/A variants do not play a major role in susceptibility to, clinical manifestations for, or clozapine response in, schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Jen Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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Wassink TH, Nopoulos P, Pietila J, Crowe RR, Andreasen NC. NOTCH4 and the frontal lobe in schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2003; 118B:1-7. [PMID: 12627456 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.10071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
NOTCH4 is a developmentally expressed gene recently reported to be in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with schizophrenia. We investigated this finding in our sample of subjects, focusing on an exonic (CTG)(n) polymorphism, examining not only the association of this polymorphism with the disease phenotype, but also its effect on frontal lobe brain morphology and cognitive function in both affected individuals and a psychiatrically normal comparison group. While we did not find any association or LD with schizophrenia, we identified striking effects of NOTCH4 variability on the trait measures. Within the respective schizophrenia and comparison groups, NOTCH4 allelic variability was correlated with differences in measures of frontal lobe cognitive performance and frontal lobe brain tissue volumes that were intuitively congruent. These within-group effects, however, were in opposite directions across groups. These findings may reflect the interaction of NOTCH4 with the underlying genetic and phenotypic complexity that characterizes both schizophrenia and normal cognition and brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H Wassink
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatry Research/MEB, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Haukim N, Bidwell JL, Smith AJP, Keen LJ, Gallagher G, Kimberly R, Huizinga T, McDermott MF, Oksenberg J, McNicholl J, Pociot F, Hardt C, D'Alfonso S. Cytokine gene polymorphism in human disease: on-line databases, supplement 2. Genes Immun 2002; 3:313-30. [PMID: 12209358 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gene.6363881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Haukim
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Bristol, Homoeopathic Hospital Site, Cotham, Bristol BS6 6JU, UK
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22
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Tumor necrosis factor inhibits neurite outgrowth and branching of hippocampal neurons by a rho-dependent mechanism. J Neurosci 2002. [PMID: 11826115 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.22-03-00854.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to injury and inflammation of the CNS, brain cells including microglia and astrocytes secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF). This pro-inflammatory cytokine has been implicated in both neuronal cell death and survival. We now provide evidence that TNF affects the formation of neurites. Neurons cultured on astrocytic glial cells exhibited reduced outgrowth and branching of neurites after addition of recombinant TNF or prestimulation of glial cells to secrete TNF. This effect was absent in neurons of TNF receptor-deficient mice cultured on prestimulated glia of wild-type mice and was reverted by blocking TNF with soluble TNF receptor IgG fusion protein. TNF activated in neurons the small GTPase RhoA. By inactivating Rho with C3 transferase, the inhibitory effect of TNF on neurite outgrowth and branching was abolished. These results suggest that glia-derived TNF, as part of an injury or inflammatory process, can inhibit neurite elongation and branching during development and regeneration.
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Rujescu D, Meisenzahl EM, Giegling I, Kirner A, Leinsinger G, Hegerl U, Hahn K, Möller HJ. Methionine homozygosity at codon 129 in the prion protein is associated with white matter reduction and enlargement of CSF compartments in healthy volunteers and schizophrenic patients. Neuroimage 2002; 15:200-6. [PMID: 11771989 DOI: 10.1006/nimg.2001.0932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Twin studies point toward a substantial heritability in individual variations in the size of the human brain. However, the etiology is largely unknown. The prion protein (gene name: PRNP) aids cellular resistance to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration and is involved in neurodevelopment. This study examines the influence of a polymorphism in the PRNP gene on brain morphology in 47 healthy males and 43 male schizophrenic patients. All subjects underwent identical MRI scanning sessions followed by segmentation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), gray and white matter tissue, and genotyping for a biallelic polymorphism in PRNP (Met129Val). Genotype and allele frequencies did not differ between schizophrenic patients and controls but the polymorphism was associated with white matter tissue reduction (P = 0.024) and enlargement of CSF compartments (P = 0.039). These findings suggest that homozygosity for methionine at codon 129 is associated with decreased white matter tissue and larger CSF volume in right-handed male healthy volunteers and schizophrenic patients. This, however, being a novel finding, should warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, D-80336 Munich, Germany
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Marx CE, Jarskog LF, Lauder JM, Lieberman JA, Gilmore JH. Cytokine effects on cortical neuron MAP-2 immunoreactivity: implications for schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2001; 50:743-9. [PMID: 11720692 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01209-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytokines demonstrate diverse actions in the brain and modulate systemic and central nervous system (CNS) responses to injury, infection, and inflammation. Cytokines in the CNS are elevated during infection and ischemia, two neurodevelopmental insults associated with increased schizophrenia risk. We hypothesize that cytokine-mediated neuronal injury during development may contribute to schizophrenia pathophysiology, causing subtle alterations in neuronal number and density. METHODS We examined cytokine regulation of neuronal number in embryonic day 18 rat cortical cultures using MAP-2 immunohistochemistry. Mixed cultures derived from frontal cortex were fixed and stained after 48-hour exposure to the proinflammatory interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 0, 10, 100, or 1000 units/mL). RESULTS IL-1beta (maximum effect 35%) and IL-6 (maximum effect 29%) produced dose-dependent decreases in the number of cells (neurons) immunoreactive for MAP-2 antibody, suggesting decreased neuronal survival. TNF-alpha also tended to decrease MAP-2 immunostaining at the highest dose tested. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest a role for cytokines in the modulation of neuronal survival during neurodevelopment, a finding potentially relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology. If cytokine-mediated neuronal injury proves to be a common response to gestational insults associated with increased schizophrenia risk, the pharmacologic modulation of these molecules may have clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Marx
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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