A genetic study of schizophrenia in the Brahmin of Tamil Nadu

泰米尔纳德邦婆罗门精神分裂症的遗传学研究

• 批准号: nhmrc : 143027
• 负责人: Dr Derek Nancarrow
• 金额: $ 17.82万
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: NHMRC Project Grants
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2001-01-01 至 2003-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://researchdata.edu.au/genetic-study-schizophrenia-tamil-nadu/81390
• 关键词: genetic; study; schizophrenia; Brahmin; Tamil

The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but there is good evidence that genes play a role. Geneticists do not fully understand how it is inherited, but it is very complex, and several interacting genes as well as environmental factors are probably involved. Societies such as Australia are genetically diverse because people from many different ethnic groups have intermarried. To detect susceptibility genes in this type of population, we must study very large patient samples. Alternatively, we can study genetically homogenous patient samples, found in isolated gene-pool populations. One such population is the Brahmin people in Tamil Nadu, a south-eastern state of India. The Brahmin are descended from the Aryan peoples who migrated into southern India 2000 years ago. In the Hindu caste system, Brahmin are the highly educated priest class, and enjoy a privileged position in society. Traditionally, marriages among the Brahmin of Tamil Nadu have been prearranged, with a preference for first-cousin marriages. As well as this cultural and historical evidence, genetic marker studies confirm that this population is a suitable genetic isolate. In this project, genetic material (DNA) will be collected from Brahmin schizophrenic patients and their families. Diagnostic data, detailed family data, and blood samples will be gathered from 90-100 extended families, each containing two or more ill individuals. Analysis of their genetic code will enable a search for possible schizophrenia susceptibility genes and a systematic search for a mutation. If found, this will greatly improve our understanding of schizophrenia, and stimulate the search for similar genes in other samples world-wide, including Australia where schizophrenia costs $3 billion annually in terms of treatment and lost jobs. If schizophrenia genes can be found, it may be possible to find better treatments that correct the basic causes of the illness and identify factors that protect against the illness.

精神分裂症的病因尚不清楚，但有充分证据表明基因发挥了作用。遗传学家并不完全了解它是如何遗传的，但它非常复杂，可能涉及几个相互作用的基因以及环境因素。像澳大利亚这样的社会在基因上是多样化的，因为来自许多不同种族群体的人们通婚。为了检测这类人群的易感基因，我们必须研究非常大的患者样本。或者，我们可以研究在孤立的基因库群体中发现的遗传同质的患者样本。印度东南部泰米尔纳德邦的婆罗门族就是其中之一。婆罗门是2000年前移居印度南部的雅利安人的后裔。在印度教种姓制度中，婆罗门是受过高等教育的祭司阶层，在社会上享有特权地位。传统上，泰米尔纳德邦婆罗门族之间的婚姻是预先安排的，优先选择近亲结婚。除了这些文化和历史证据外，遗传标记研究还证实该群体是合适的遗传分离株。在这个项目中，将从婆罗门精神分裂症患者及其家人身上收集遗传物质（DNA）。将从 90-100 个大家庭收集诊断数据、详细家庭数据和血液样本，每个大家庭包含两名或两名以上患病者。对它们的遗传密码的分析将能够寻找可能的精神分裂症易感基因并系统地寻找突变。如果找到的话，这将极大地提高我们对精神分裂症的理解，并刺激在世界范围内其他样本中寻找类似基因，包括澳大利亚，该国每年因精神分裂症的治疗和失业而花费 30 亿美元。如果能够找到精神分裂症基因，就有可能找到更好的治疗方法来纠正疾病的基本原因并确定预防疾病的因素。