Association Study between Norepinephrine Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Schizophrenia in a Korean Population

Abstract

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate possible associations between three norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) single nucleotide polymorphisms (T182C, A3081T, and G1287A) and schizophrenia. Also, we investigated the relationships of those polymorphisms with clinical severity and characteristics of schizophrenia.MethodsParticipants were 220 schizophrenia patients in the acute phase and 167 healthy controls. The genotype, allele frequency, and haplotype of each group were analyzed for T182C, A3081T, and G1287A polymorphisms. Of the 220 schizophrenia patients, 163 patients were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Korean version of the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia (K-CDSS) at baseline.ResultsWe found no significant differences between the schizophrenia patient group and the control group in genotype distribution or allele frequency of the three tested polymorphisms. Likewise, we could not find any significant differences in genotype or allele frequency by analyzing according to gender. In the haplotype study, no significant association emerged between specific haplotype combinations and schizophrenia. We also found no association between clinical scales (PANSS and K-CDSS) and the studied polymorphisms.ConclusionOur results suggest that the investigated polymorphisms of the NET gene are not associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia or its clinical features in a Korean population. However, this study remains significant because it is the first haplotype study to investigate associations between NET gene (SLC6A2) single nucleotide polymorphisms and schizophrenia in a Korean population. Future research with a larger sample size and more genetic markers is needed to replicate our results.

The Role of the Second Extracellular Loop of Norepinephrine Transporter, Neurotrophin-3 and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase C in T Cells: A Peripheral Biomarker in the Etiology of Schizophrenia

“…NT-3 activates TrkC receptors and, after the complex internalization, different signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs), Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ), initiate a cascade of intracellular signal transduction [45,46]. In turn, NET exerts a dynamic control of extracellular NE concentration through reuptake of the NE released in the synaptic cleft, playing an important role in pre/postsynaptic homeostasis [18,47]. Evidence suggests that NT-3 regulates NET expression, for example, in cultured quail neural crest cells [38].…”

“…transduction [45,46]. In turn, NET exerts a dynamic control of extracellular NE concentration through reuptake of the NE released in the synaptic cleft, playing an important role in pre/postsynaptic homeostasis [18,47]. Evidence suggests that NT-3 regulates NET expression, for example, in cultured quail neural crest cells [38].…”