Associations between schizotypal traits and genes coding for inflammation markers (Creactive protein and TNF-α) were studied in 222 healthy men who completed the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-74). CRP -717A>G and TNFα -308 G>A polymorphisms were genotyped. Carriers of low-active allele G of the CRP gene differed from subjects with genotype AA by a trend toward more manifest schizotypal traits in general and scores on the Interpersonal factor, which corresponds to negative syndrome in schizophrenia, and Constricted affect and Odd behavior scales. These results could be interpreted in favor of the hypothesis on a compensatory increase of CRP concentrations in subjects with abnormalities of CNS development that predispose to schizophrenia.
Keywords: C-reactive protein; SPQ-74; genetic polymorphism; schizophrenia; tumor necrosis factor.