Yet another gene linked to higher schizophrenia risk (09/27/06)
The numer of genes linked to schizophrenia keep on growing. Infants with a certain immune gene have a higher risk of schizophrenia if it very closely match the mothers', American researchers say. The findings suggest that schizophrenia risk rises most in daughters. The gene is called HLA-B and infants inherit one copy from each parent. HLA-B is one of a family of genes which help the immune system distinguish between the body's own proteins from those made by foreign organisms like viruses and bacteria.
Source: The Copenhagen Post, Thursday, August 10, and Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, 103(33), p. 12469-74, 2006
Read more in article at www.redorbit.com
PubMed abstract

Gene involved in the development of the brain may play a role in schizophrenia (09/25/06)
Earlier research has suggested that schizophrenia is associated with changes in myelin, the fatty substance in the brain that coats nerve fibers and is critical for the brain to function properly. Myelin is formed by a group of central nervous cells called oligodendrocytes, which are regulated by a gene called OLIG2. Now a research team has found that changes in the OLIG2 gene may play a causal role in the development of schizophrenia.
Source: The Copenhagen Post, Thursday, August 10, and Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, 103(33), p. 12469-74, 2006
Read more in article at www.innovations-report.org
PubMed abstract

Scientists have pinpointed two genes that may lead to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (09/25/06)
Danish researchers have discovered two risk genes for mental illness, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (formerly called manic depression). The research team identified the genes on chromosome 22 in a research project in which persons from Scotland and the Faeroe Islands participated. The team found that the patients who showed signs of mental illness had mutations in the two genes on that chromosome, GPR24 and BRD1. The discovery does not mean, however, that the mutations in the two genes automatically result in mental illness; there are numerous environmental factors also at work.
Source: The Copenhagen Post, Thursday, August 10, and Molecular Psychiatry, Aug 22, [Epub ahead of print], 2006
Read more in article at www.cphpost.org
PubMed abstract

Protein in the cell nucleys may play a role in schizophrenia (07/19/06)
American researchers have discovered that a protein called Elk-1 interacts with mitochondria, the energy storehouse of a cell, suggesting that this protein, active in the cell's nucleus, which contains the DNA, could play a role in cell death and mitochondria-related diseases such as neurodegeneration and schizophrenia.
Source: EurekAlert, Wednesday, June 7, and Nature Methods, v. 3(6), p. 455-60, 2006
Read more in article at www.eurekalert.org
PubMed abstract

Schizophrenic mice lead the way (02/23/06)
Scientists say they have developed a mouse model of schizophrenia, which could be useful in studies of this disease that affects about one percent of the population.
The genetically manipulated mice have abnormal activity of the dopamine machinery in a specific area of the brain, which results in cognitive and behavioural changes similar to those obseved among people with schizophrenia.
Source: Health 24 and Innovations Report, Thursday, February 16, and Neuron, v. 49(4), p. 603-615, 2006
Read more in article at www.health24.com
Read more in article at www.innovations-report.com
PubMed abstract

New mouse model could help explain the mechanisms behind schizophrenia (02/05/06)
Removing a single gene in the mouse genome, which codes for a protein - NR1 - involved in passing signals between nerve cells, a process used in learning and memory, affects the mice in a way that resembles schizophrenia in humans. When drugs are used to block a similar protein to NR1 in humans, it results in a psychotic state. The authors think both their genetic mouse model, as well as a new learning and memory test they have developed may become useful for studies of schizophrenia.
Source: GJ Sentinel, Friday, January 20, and Journal of Neurooscience, v. 26(3), p. 908-15, 2006
Read more in article at www.gjsentinel.com
PubMed abstract

Children with deletion syndrome confirm gene's role in psychosis (10/30/05)
An American study shows that children suffering from a deletion syndrom, in which a part of chomosome 22 is missing, are at higher risk of developing schizophrenia. The gene, in which the deletion is located, codes for en enzyme called COMT, which is involved in the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. People suffering from the deletion syndrom are more prone to cognitive decline, psychosis and loss of brain tissue in the frontal lobe by late adolescence, when schizophrenia symptoms usually begin to emerge.
Source: EurekAlert, Sunday, October 23, and Nature Neurooscience, v.8(11), p. 1200-2, 2005
Read more in article at www.eurekalert.org
PubMed abstract

Link found between gene important for the central nervous system and autism and schizophrenia (10/15/05)
Researchers have unveiled new information regarding the genetic, cellular and neurological bases of susceptibility to complex diseases, such as autism and schizophrenia. By analyzing data on 518 families, each with multiple autistic children, the researchers discovered that there is a link between autism, and probably also schizophrenia, and Engrailed 2 (EN2), a gene important in the development of the central nervous system.
Source: Science Daily, Friday, October 7, and American Journal of Human Genetics, v. 77, p. 851-868, 2005
Read more in article at www.sciencedaily.com
Abstract at the journal's homepage

Altered gene may increase schizophrenia risk (04/26/05)
A new imaging study shows that a tiny variation in the gene that makes the enzyme that breaks down dopamine, a neurotransmitter known to be involved in schizophrenia, alters the dopamine activity in two areas in the front of the brain.
Source: Innovations Report, Friday, April 22, , and Nature Neuroscience, April 10; [Epub ahead of print], 2005
Read more in article at www.innovations-report.com
PubMed abstract

Could schizophrenia arise from a single defect? (02/25/05)
Researchers have agreed that schizophrenia is a complex developmental disease caused by multiple factors, for instance genes, prenatal trauma, and/or viral infections. It also has several symptoms, like hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and antisocial behavior. Now a group of researchers suggest that seemingly diverse combinations of symptoms can arise from a subtle imbalance in the activity of a single gene whose protein plays a key role in the development of the nervous system.
Source: EurekAlert, Wednesday, February 16, Ashbury Park Press, Tuesday, Fenruary 22, and Neuron, v. 45(4), p. 497-503, 2005
Read more in article at www.eurekalert.org
Read more in article at www.app.com
PubMed abstract

New discoveries concerning dopamine and schizophrenia (02/25/05)
One of the neurotransmitters involved in schizophrenia is dopamine, which binds to receptors in the brain. Now research shows that mutations in genes that have no relation to the brain’s dopamine receptors can still cause those receptors to become highly sensitive to dopamine, which leads to psychosis.
Source: Innovations Report, Tuesday, February 15, 2005, and Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Feb 16, 2005
Read more in article at www.innovations-report.de
PubMed abstract

Discovery of new gene may lead to antipsychotic treatment with fewer side effects (12/07/04)
Because of severe side effects, many patients do not like to take the antipsychotic drugs prescribed for schizophrenia. Australian scientists now say they have discovered a gene that could significantly improve the treatment of schizophrenic patients. The gene, they say, makes patients more susceptible to the side effects of medication. The new discoveries will make it possible for physicians to do a simple blood test or DNA swab and predict what patinets will benefit better from what typer of medications.
Source: ABC News Online, Thursday, December 2, 2004, and Schizophrenia Research, v. 73(1), p. 31-7, 2005
Read more in article at www.abc.net.au
PubMed abstract

New gene found associated with schizophrenia found (10/29/04)
A research team recently reported, at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, that they have found a new gene called RGS4 may be associated with schizophrenia. It is known that the gene is involved in the control of the release of neurotransmitters, molecules that help nerve cells communicate with each other. The research shows that patients with schizophrenia have lower levels of the protein that the RGS4 gene codes for.
Source: EurekAlert, Wednesday, October 27, and Science Daily, Monday, Npovember 8, 2004
Read more in article at www.eurekalert.org
Read more in article at www.sciencedaily.com

Psychotic mice may help researchers learn mora about schizophrenia (09/05/04)
American researchers have created a mouse strain that display psychotic symptoms. The mice have mutations in two genes called NPAS1 and NPAS3. These mutations are also found in a Canadian family with a history of schizophrenia. The mice have the same deficits that schizophrenic patients have.
Source: Reuters, Monday, August 30, 2004
Read more in article at www.reuters.co.uk

Glutamate gene linked to schizophrenia identified (08/13/04)
Researchers have identified a relationship between a small section of a gene for glutamate, a chemical signal substance in the brain, known to be associated with schizophrenia.
Source: News-Medical.Net, Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Read more in article at www.news-medical.net

Australian study have found 69 genes linked to schizophrenia (06/10/04)
Researchers at the Melbourne Mental Health Research Institute have been collecting tissue from brains from diceased patients, and have isolated 69 genes which may hold the key to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Source: The Australian, Tuesday, June 8, and PR Newswire, Monday, June 7, 2004
Read more in article at www.theaustralian.com.au
Read more in article at www.prnewswire.com

Survival gene linked to schizophrenia (04/17/04)
Approximately 2 percent of Caucasians have a gene segment variation that can cause a certain form of schizophrenia. Most people with this genetic variation do not have the disease. A research team has now found that this mutation is associated with general benefits for human survival.
Source: Science Blog, Monday, April 12, 2004
Read more in article at www.scienceblog.com

Studies in yeast help researchers learn more about genetic mechanisms in schizophrenia (02/07/04)
Different combinations of genetic mutations may give rise to diverse human traits, including complex diseases such as schizophrenia. Studies in yeast may help researchers learn more about the mechanisms behind these diseases.
Source: news@UofT, Thursday, February 5, 2004
Read more in article at www.newsandevents.utoronto.ca

Several genes operate differently in schizophrenic patients (01/17/04)
An Australian genetics study recently showed that out of the 12 000 genes that were studied, 153 operate differently in schizophrenic patients than in healthy individuals.
Source: The Age, Friday, January 16, 2004
Read more in article at www.theage.com.au

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