Association study on the DLG4 gene and schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND: Abnormal expressions of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and its interacting postsynaptic density (PSD) molecules have been hypothesized to be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Few studies have carried out association studies with DLG4 gene (coding PSD-95 protein) and sought to validate the results with Asian schizophrenia patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To further investigate the significance of DLG4 in Asian schizophrenic patients, we examined seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within this gene in 1504 unrelated Chinese mainland individuals (893 patients and 611 controls). RESULTS: No association was found between these seven SNPs and schizophrenia within our sample. No significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between schizophrenic paranoid patients and controls were found. CONCLUSION: Although no allelic or genotypic variances of this gene were observed, the possibility that SNPs within DLG4 represent a positive schizophrenia risk gene cannot be excluded. Our research provided a reference for further research into this gene in other populations.