Apolipoprotein E ϵ2 allele and early onset schizophrenia

Abstract To explore the role of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in schizophrenia, we investigated ApoE phenotypes in a group of patients with schizophrenia. Serum samples were obtained from 122 schizophrenic patients and 126 controls in Japan and were examined using isoelectric focusing/immunoblotting. This experiment showed a trend toward a decreased frequency of ApoE ϵ 4 in schizophrenia and no link between ApoE ϵ 4 and familial schizophrenia or early onset schizophrenia. On the other hand, a decreased frequency of ApoE ϵ 2 in early onset schizophrenia was detected. These results suggest that ApoE ϵ 2 protects against early onset schizophrenia, and that ApoE ϵ 4 is not involved in the development of schizophrenia in Japanese.