Altered dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) is hypothesized to be a susceptibility factor for major psychosis. Recent studies showed that a new intracellular protein, prostate apoptosis response 4 (Par-4), plays a critical role in D2R signaling. We conducted a genetic association analysis between Par-4 gene (PAWR) and schizophrenia and mood disorders in a Japanese population (schizophrenia: 556 cases, bipolar disorder (BP): 150 cases, major depressive disorder (MDD): 312 cases and 466 controls). Applying the recommended 'gene-based' association analysis, we selected five tagging SNPs in PAWR from the HapMap database. No significant association was obtained found with schizophrenia or MDD or BP. We found a significant association of one tagging SNP with BP in a genotype-wise analysis (P = 0.0396); however, this might be resulted from type I error due to multiple testing (P = 0.158 after SNPSpD correction). Considering the size of our sample and strategy, our results suggest that the PAWR does not play a major role in schizophrenia or mood disorders in the Japanese population.
(c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.