Study of genetic markers on the short arm of the chromosome 6 (6p) in schizophrenia : analysis of schizophrenia susceptibility gene

1999 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 09671009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (1999); Teikyo University (1997-1998)
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Tsukasa University of Tokyo, 保健管理センター, 講師 (50235256)
• Project Period (FY): 1997 – 1999
• Keywords: schizophrenia / Genetics / HLA / Chromosome 6p / Seasonality of birth / neurodevelop mental disorder

Research Abstract

We had obtained a result to indicate an association between the HLA locus, located at the short arm of the chromosome 6, and schizophrenia in two independent patient groups. The result was consistent with previous small Japanese studies, strongly suggesting an increase of HLA-DR1 frequency in Japanese patients with schizophrenia by the end of fiscal 1998 (Am J Psychiatry 56 ; 771-773, 1999).
In fiscal 1999, we further investigated the issue to confirm this result. We studied HLA-DR1 and DR4 frequencies in another group of schizophrenia patients and control subjects. An increase of subjects possessing DR1 in schizophrenia patients was observed (p < 0.05), consistent with the previous results. No difference of DR4 frequency was observed between the patients and controls, thus we failed to confirm a decrease of DR4 frequency in schizophrenia, which was reported in Caucasian studies (Schizophrenia Res, in press).
Also, we investigated relationship between clinical and demographic variables and DR1 in schizophrenia, to study a possible mechanism of a role of HLA in schizophrenia. A significant association between winter birth (February-March) and DR1 was observed in schizophrenia patients (p < 0.005). This suggests that a factor related to winter birth (such as an effect of influenza infection and cold weather during the pre or peri-ntal period) might interact with HLA and influence the later development of schizophrenia (Am J Psychiatry, in press).

Research Products

• [Publications] Sasaki, T. et al.: "Schizophrenia and the HLA-DRB1 gene in the Japanese population"American Journal of Psychiatry. 156. 771-773 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Akaho, R., Sasaki, T., et al.: "Support for an association between HLA-DR1 and schizophrenia in the Japanese population"American Journal of Medical Genetics. (印刷中).
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Narita, K., Sasaki, T., et al.: "HLA and season of birth in Japanese patients with schizophrenia"American Journal of Psychiatry. (印刷中).
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Sasaki T, Matsushita M, Nanko S, Fukuda R, Kennedy JL, Tokunaga K.: "Schizophrenia and the HLA-DRB1 gene in the Japanese population"Am J Psychiatry. 156. 771-773 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Narita K, Sasaki T, Akaho R, Okazaki Y, Kusumi I, Kato T, Hashimoto O, Fukuda R, Koyama T, Matsuo K, Okabe Y, Nanko S, Hohjoh H, Tokunaga K.: "HLA and season of birth in Japanese patients with schizophrenia"Am J Psychiatry. (in press).
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Akaho R, Matsushita I, Narita K, Okazaki Y, Okabe Y, Matsushita M, Hohjoh H, Tokunaga K, Sasaki T.: "Further support for an association between HLA-DR1 and schizophrenia in the Japanese population."Am J Med Genet. (in press).
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より