Association analysis between dopamine D1 receptor gene and symptom quantitative trait of schizophrenia

Abstract

To explore the relationship between dopamine D1 receptor gene (DRD1) and symptom quantitative trait of schizophrenia. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 211 schizophrenics and 247 healthy controls at our center. Five tag SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) (rs4532, rs5326, rs2168631, rs6882300 & rs267418) within DRD1 gene were genotyped by TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. The positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) was used to quantify the phenotypes of schizophrenia. No significant differences existed in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of DRD1 gene between the schizophrenics and normal controls (Ps > 0.05); strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between rs4532 and rs5326 (D' = 0.84); no significant difference of haplotypic distribution was identified between the patients and controls (Ps > 0.05); the patients with rs4532G allele had a higher negative subscale score than those without G allele (20.3 ± 3.3 vs 18.2 ± 3.9, P < 0.01). The rs4532 within DRD1 gene may be associated with negative symptom quantitative trait in schizophrenia.