J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2010 Mar;49(2):201-209.

Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of COMT Gene in Korean Schizophrenics

• Lee DK
• Kim SH
• Choe BM
• Park JH
• Son SR
• Kang HJ
• Hong YS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in metabolizing catecholamines, including dopamine. Also, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the COMT gene are associated with schizophrenia. Therefore, this study aimed to find the association between COMT gene SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans.
METHODS
Participants were 366 schizophrenia patients and 359 normal controls. To identify the SNPs, we performed genetic analyses in 4 SNP regions, via SNP-ITTM assays. We compared allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies between the two groups. Moreover, we built subgroups, based on onset age, and compared individual allele and genotype frequencies among these subgroups.
RESULTS
In female patients, genotype frequencies showed a significant difference in rs2020917 among the 4 SNPs (p=0.0224), but haplotype frequencies showed no such difference among the 4 SNPs between patients and controls. We noted a significant difference in rs1544325 allele frequencies according to onset age. Also, in female patients, rs1544325 allele and genotype frequencies varied significantly according to onset age.
CONCLUSION
This study found no genetic association between the COMT gene's 4 SNPs and schizophrenia in Koreans. However, our findings suggest genetic components for sex-specificity and onset age in Korean schizophrenics.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; SNPs; COMT gene; Allele; Genotype; Haplotype; Association study

MeSH Terms

Age of Onset
Alleles
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Catecholamines
Dopamine
Female
Gene Frequency
Genotype
Haplotypes
Humans
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Schizophrenia
Catechol O-Methyltransferase
Catecholamines
Dopamine