RGS4 Polymorphisms and Neurobiology of Schizophrenia

RGS4 多态性与精神分裂症的神经生物学

• 批准号: 6976944
• 负责人: Konasale M Prasad
• 金额: $ 17.54万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-08-05 至 2010-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6976944
• 关键词: G protein; biological signal transduction; brain imaging /visualization /scanning; brain morphology; cerebral cortex; clinical research; gene expression; genetic polymorphism; human subject; magnetic resonance imaging; morphometry; neurobiology; patient oriented research; phenotype; schizophrenia

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Research Career Development plan proposes a program of training and research designed to clarify the in vivo biological impact of variations in the gene encoding regulator of G-protein signaling subtype 4 (RGS4) polymorphisms in schizophrenia patients, individuals at risk for schizophrenia and matched healthy subjects. Demonstrating an association between genetic variations and intermediate phenotypes provides an important additional support for genetic association. RGS4 underexpression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of schizophrenia patients is reported. Subsequently, an association of RGS4 gene with schizophrenia has been reported in 7 independently ascertained populations in USA, Europe, india and Brazil. Our preliminary studies showed smaller DLPFC in schizophrenia patients homozygous for allele T of SNP4 and allele A of SNP18 but not in healthy subjects suggesting an interaction with other illness related variables. According to the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia pathogenic process starts prior to the emergence of clinical symptoms. Therefore, studying cerebral changes in persons at genetically high risk for developing schizophrenia who have not yet manifested the illness could minimize the confounds due to the illness. Smaller DLPFC was also observed in schizophrenia subjects homozygous for Val allele of the COMT gene that has also been associated with schizophrenia. The proposed study plans to utilize structural MRI and phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy to characterize the differences in morphometry and membrane chemical (phosphomonoesters and phosphodiesters) concentrations associated with RGS4 variations in these study groups. We will explore the associations of these imaging measures with COMT polymorphisms. Characterizing intermediate phenotypes using "cross-longitudinal" design helps in delineating longitudinal trajectory of cerebral correlates of genetic polymorphisms, designing novel medications and early detection.

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究职业发展计划提出了一项培训和研究计划，旨在阐明 G 蛋白信号亚型 4 (RGS4) 多态性的基因编码调节因子变异对精神分裂症患者、个体的体内生物学影响有患精神分裂症的风险和匹配的健康受试者。证明遗传变异和中间表型之间的关联为遗传关联提供了重要的额外支持。据报道，精神分裂症患者的背外侧前额皮质 (DLPFC) 中 RGS4 表达不足。随后，在美国、欧洲、印度和巴西的 7 个独立确定的人群中报道了 RGS4 基因与精神分裂症的关联。我们的初步研究表明，SNP4 的等位基因 T 和 SNP18 的等位基因 A 纯合的精神分裂症患者的 DLPFC 较小，但在健康受试者中则不然，这表明与其他疾病相关变量存在相互作用。根据精神分裂症的神经发育假说，致病过程在临床症状出现之前就开始了。因此，研究具有罹患精神分裂症遗传高风险且尚未表现出该疾病的人的大脑变化可以最大限度地减少该疾病造成的混乱。在 COMT 基因 Val 等位基因纯合的精神分裂症受试者中也观察到较小的 DLPFC，该基因也与精神分裂症相关。拟议的研究计划利用结构 MRI 和磷磁共振波谱来表征这些研究组中与 RGS4 变异相关的形态测量和膜化学（磷酸单酯和磷酸二酯）浓度的差异。我们将探讨这些影像学测量与 COMT 多态性的关联。使用“跨纵向”设计表征中间表型有助于描绘遗传多态性的大脑相关物的纵向轨迹、设计新药物和早期检测。