Title of article :
Making the Case for a Candidate Vulnerability Gene in Schizophrenia: Convergent Evidence for Regulator of G-Protein Signaling 4 (RGS4)
Author/Authors :
Pat Levitt، نويسنده , , Philip Ebert، نويسنده , , Karoly Mirnics، نويسنده , , Vishwajit L. Nimgaonkar، نويسنده , , David A. Lewis، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2006
Pages :
4
From page :
534
To page :
537
Abstract :
Both genetic and environmental factors have been associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia. These factors are not mutually exclusive; a single gene can be a genetic factor (due to a mutation in the gene sequence) and a target of a physiological response to an environmental stimulus, both with the common endpoint of altered expression of the gene. Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) has been implicated as such a gene from three lines of evidence. First, a subset of genetic studies revealed an association between schizophrenia and non-functional polymorphisms in the RGS4 gene. Second, across the cortical mantle the expression of RGS4 mRNA is decreased in a diagnosis-specific manner in subjects with schizophrenia. Third, neurobiological studies demonstrate that RGS4 is highly responsive to environmental stimuli and capable of modulating the function of G-protein coupled neurotransmitter receptors implicated in schizophrenia. RGS4 is an example of a molecule that may underlie increased vulnerability through either genetic or non-genetic mechanisms, which we suggest may be typical of other genes in a complex, polygenic disorder such as schizophrenia.
Keywords :
Synaptic function , Neurodevelopment , RGS proteins , gene–environment , Schizophrenia
Journal title :
Biological Psychiatry
Serial Year :
2006
Journal title :
Biological Psychiatry
Record number :
503084
Link To Document :
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