Previous studies provide evidence for a genetic component for susceptibility to bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) in the old-order Amish population. El-Mallakh and Wyatt [1995: Biol Psychiatry 37:235-244] have suggested that the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase may be a candidate gene for BPAD. This study examines the relationship between BPAD in the old-order Amish cohort and the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha1 and beta3 subunit genes (ATP1A3, ATP1B3). A total of 166 sibling pairs were analyzed for linkage via nonparametric methods. Suggestive levels of statistical significance were not reached in any stratification model for affective illness. Overall, the results do not support linkage of bipolar disorder to the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit gene (ATP1A3) and beta subunit gene (ATP1B3) in these old-order Amish families and they show that these Na(+),K(+)-ATPase subunit genes are not major effect genes (>or=fourfold increased genetic risk of disease) for BPAD in the old-order Amish pedigrees. We cannot exclude other genetic variants of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase hypothesis for BPAD, whereby other loci may modifying Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity.
Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.