The dopamine b-hydroxylase 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism was associated with first-episode but not medicated chronic schizophrenia
RIS ID
57431
Abstract
Background: Numerous studies report dysfunctional dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is an intracellular enzyme catalyzing the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. Functional polymorphisms have been reported in the promoter region of DBH gene, including a 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was an association between the functional polymorphism (DBH50-Ins/Del) and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population. Methods: This polymorphism was genotyped in 221 first-episode schizophrenics, 360 chronic schizophrenics and 318 healthy controls using a case-control design. We assessed their psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results:We showedthat theDBH50-Ins/Del deletion (Del) allelic and genotypic frequencieswere significantly lower in controls than first-episode of schizophrenics (FES) (both p < 0.001), but controlswere not different from chronic schizophrenics. Furthermore, the PANSS positive symptom and total scores were significantly higher in FES with the Del/Del genotype than those with Ins/Del and Ins/Ins genotypes (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The DBH50-Ins/Del polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to the positive symptoms of FES and to these FES not progressing on to chronic schizophrenia.
Publication Details
Hui, L., Zhang, X., Huang, X. Feng., Han, M., Fernandez, F., Yu, Y., Sun, S., Li, W., Chen, D. Chun., Xiu, M. Hong., Kosten, T. R. & Zhang, X. Yang. (2012). The dopamine b-hydroxylase 19 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism was associated with first-episode but not medicated chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 46 (6), 733-737.