The association between schizophrenia and the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene polymorphism

Objective To detect the genetic association between schizophrenia and rs1042724,rs384470 polymorphism at nucleotide of the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene. Methods Observed in a sample of 98 parent/offspring trios where the proband net the American Classification and diagnostic Criteria for Mental Disorders. The Forth Revised Edition, criteria for schizophrenia using transmission/disequilibrium test(TDT) analysis. The polymorphism of nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene was detected with PCR methods and SNP typing in all nucleus families. Results Using a family-based association design we obtained evidence of an association between schizophrenia and allele of the rs1042724 polymorphism in the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene(RR=1.31,2 (RR)=3.96,P＜0.05). Moreover the fact that transmission disequilibrium was observed when one affected offspring was selected at random from each family, suggesting that the results are due to association(McNemar 2 = 4.21,P＜0.05). There is no association between schizophrenia and rs1042724 polymorphism in the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene (McNemar 2 =2.34,P＞0.05). Conclusion It shows an association between schizophrenia and the rs1042724 polymorphism at nucleotide of the nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene in Chinese. Key words: Schizophrenia ;  The α7 nicotine-like acetylcholinergic receptor gene ;  Polymorphism ;  Association analysis ;