J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  1999 Jul;38(4):843-852.

An Association Study between the HUMTH01-VNTR Polymorphism of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene and Schizophrenia

• Jeon T
• Kweon Y

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genetic relation of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase gene, a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamine, with schizophrenia, we designed the association study between the microsatellite HUMTH01-VNTR polymorphic locus, located in the first intron of the TH, and the Korean schizophrenic patients. METHOD: We typed 6 different alleles of the HUMTH01-VNTR locus using PCR and automated sequencer in 105 schizophrenic patients meeting DSM-IV criteria and 142 normal controls. The frequencies of allele and genotype were compared between patients and normal controls. And the allele frequencies were compared respectively in terms of positive and negative subtypes according to the PANSS and family history.
RESULTS
The frequencies of allele and genotype were not significantly different between the patient and normal controls. In patient group, the frequencies of allele between positve and negative symptom subtypes and family history were not significantly different.
CONCLUSION
The authors can not find an association between the HUMTH01-VNTR poly-morphic locus and Korean schizophrenic patients. And these results indicate that the TH gene does not likely play a major role in the genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Tyrosine hydroxylase; HUMTH01-VNTR; Polymorphism; Association study

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Gene Frequency
Genes, vif
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Genotype
Humans
Introns
Microsatellite Repeats
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Schizophrenia*
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase*
Tyrosine*
Tyrosine
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase