ARE COMT, MIR137, MTHFR AND DNMT3B POLYMORPHIC ALLELES ASSOCIATED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA SYMPTOMS SEVERITY IN MEN AND WOMEN?

Background The mechanisms that determine the development of schizophrenia, progress notes or clinical manifestation can be different in males and females. The aim of the study was to analyze the association of some key genes with symptoms severity in men and women suffering from schizophrenia. Methods 150 Belarusian schizophrenia patients were genotyped using RFLP and TaqMan assays. PANSS was used to evaluate the symptom severity. Patient inclusion criteria were: ICD-10 schizophrenia diagnosis, age 24–65 (46,8±9,44) years. Results There was an association of COMT rs4680 with total score of negative items in combined sample with the effect much stronger for males than for females. Patients with G-allele had a higher degree of negative symptoms. For MIR137 rs1625579 a significant impact on the negative symptomsis observed only for females. COMT rs4680 and MIR137 rs1625579 were associated with total score of general psychopathology symptoms in combined sample, but the effect of COMT was stronger for males, and MIR137 - for females. Moreover, DNMT3b rs2424913 has a significant influence on such symptoms only for females. Carriers of MIR137 TT-genotype, COMT G-allele and DNMT3b T-allele demonstrated higher level of the symptoms. MTHFR rs1801133and MIR137 rs1625579 were associated with total score of positive symptoms in combined sample, but this association in females and males separately doesn’t reach statistically proved level.The highest degree of the symptoms had patients with MTHFR T- and MIR137 TT-alleles. Discussion These results indicate that genes investigated have gender-specific impacts on symptoms and confirm the different mechanisms of schizophrenia pathogenesis between males and females.