Background: The synapse-associated protein 97 gene (SAP97) encodes a regulatory scaffold protein for the\r\nlocalization of L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA), kainate and N-methyl-Daspartate\r\n(NMDA) type glutamate receptors. We have recently demonstrated nominally significant associations\r\nbetween SAP97 gene and schizophrenia among Japanese males. The present study aimed to replicate these\r\nfindings using an independent and larger sample.\r\nMethods: We investigated seven SAP97 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that displayed a significant\r\nassociation with schizophrenia in our preceding study in an independent Japanese population consisting of a total\r\nof 393 unrelated patients with schizophrenia (232 males and 161 females) and 393 unrelated control subjects (211\r\nmales and 182 females).\r\nResults: The SNP rs9843659 showed a significant genotypic association with male patients in a recessive model (p\r\n= 0.037). The analysis of the combined data from the current and prior studies also demonstrated a significant\r\nassociation of this SNP (p = 0.0039). The meta-analysis for the allele frequency covering the two studies yielded an\r\nodds ratio of 1.38.\r\nConclusions: The present study replicated the previously reported male-selective genetic association between the\r\nSAP97 polymorphism and schizophrenia. These findings further support the possible involvement of the SAP97\r\ngene variation in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in males and in the genetic basis for sex differences in the\r\ndisorder.
Loading....