Polymorphisms of tryptophan hydroxylase gene and the symptomatology of schizophrenia: an association study

Psychiatr Genet. 2000 Dec;10(4):165-71. doi: 10.1097/00041444-200010040-00003.

Abstract

Serotonergic neurotransmission may be involved in the etiology of schizophrenia. We systematically searched for human tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) coding polymorphisms, and detected a novel pentanucleotide repeat deletion polymorphism (GTTTT)4/5 in TPH intron 1b. We also confirmed A779C intron 7. Neither polymorphism showed a significant association with schizophrenia (182 patients with schizophrenia, 148 controls). A significant association, however, between A779C genotypes and the total Manchester Scale (MS) scores was found in male patients (P = 0.045). Subsequently, a significant association was also found between A779C genotypes and the MS negative symptoms scores in male patients (P = 0.030). These results suggest that the TPH gene may play a role in the negative symptoms in male patients with schizophrenia.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA Primers
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Introns
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Reference Values
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase