Abstract |
In this study, we investigated whether polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene were associated with psychotic symptomatology rather than with a unique diagnosis such as schizophrenia. A number of association studies between the DRD4 gene 48 bp-VNTR polymorphism at exon 3 and psychotic disorders have been reported, but the results have been controversial. Both 48 bp-VNTR and the 12 bp-VNTR (at exon 1) polymorphisms of this gene were analyzed in a group of 149 unrelated Mexican subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, major depression and bipolar disorder, both with psychotic symptoms, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder and non-specific psychotic disorder, and in 169 individuals free of psychiatric illnesses. There were no differences in allele or genotype frequencies between groups for the 12 bp-VNTR polymorphisms. However, a significant excess of "rare" alleles (3-, 5-, 6- and 8-48 bp repeats alleles) was found in the group of psychotics. Moreover, haplotypes 3-A1, 5-A1, 6-A1 and 8-A1 were significantly more frequently associated with cases. This positive association supports a role of this molecule as a genetic risk factor in psychotic disorders.
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Authors | Ana Julia Aguirre, Rogelio Apiquián, Ana Fresán, Carlos Cruz-Fuentes |
Journal | Psychiatry research
(Psychiatry Res)
Vol. 153
Issue 3
Pg. 209-15
(Dec 03 2007)
ISSN: 0165-1781 [Print] Ireland |
PMID | 17822780
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Bipolar Disorder
(diagnosis, genetics)
- Depressive Disorder, Major
(diagnosis, genetics)
- Ethnicity
(genetics)
- Exons
(genetics)
- Female
- Gene Frequency
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Genotype
- Haplotypes
- Humans
- Male
- Mexico
(ethnology)
- Middle Aged
- Minisatellite Repeats
(genetics)
- Polymorphism, Genetic
(genetics)
- Psychotic Disorders
(diagnosis, genetics)
- Receptors, Dopamine D4
(genetics)
- Risk Factors
- Schizophrenia, Paranoid
(diagnosis, genetics)
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