COMT Val158Met and BDNF C270T polymorphisms in schizophrenia: a case-control study

Abstract In a multicenter study involving 217 subjects of European ancestry [106 patients with schizophrenia and 111 healthy subjects], we tested the hypothesis that the catechol- O -methyl transferase (COMT) Val 158 Met and/or the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) C 270 T gene polymorphisms are associated with schizophrenia. The COMT and BDNF genotype and their allele distribution did not differ between patients with schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects. These results do not support the hypothesis that the COMT Val 158 Met or BDNF C 270 T gene polymorphisms are associated with liability to schizophrenia.