Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphism(Valine/Methionine) Associated Neither with Schizophrenia Nor with Bipolar Disorder in a Korean Population.
- Author:
Myeung Soo KIM
1
;
Ik Seung CHEE
;
Sun Woo LEE
;
Suk Chul SHIN
;
Young Ho LEE
Author Information
1. Kim's Neuropsychiatric Clinic, Seosan, Chungnam.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Schizophrenia;
Bipolar disorder;
Catechol-O-Methyltrasferase gene;
Valine/methione polymorphism
- MeSH:
Alleles;
Bipolar Disorder*;
Catechol O-Methyltransferase*;
Catechols;
Gene Frequency;
Genotype;
Humans;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Schizophrenia*
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2001;40(3):510-519
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) is an important enzyme that inactivates biologically active or toxic catechols. Abnormal catecholamine transmission has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Polymorphism(Val/Met) of the COMT gene was shown to determine high-and low-activity alleles of the enzyme. This study was designed to investigate the association between COMT gene polymorphism and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a Korean population. METHOD: COMT gene were genotyped with polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme NlaIII in 128 patients with schizophrenia, 110 with bipolar disorder, and 176 controls. RESULTS: 1) The distribution of the COMT genotype in schizophrenic patients with Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met were 76(59.4%), 43(33.6%), 9(7.0%), in bipolar disorder patients were 63(57.3%), 35(31.8%), 12(10.9%), and in the controls were 83(47.2%), 79(44.9%), 14(8.0%). The allele frequencies of the COMT gene in schizophrenic patients with Val and Met were 195(76.2%), 61(23.8%), in bipolar disoreder patients were 161(73.2%), 59(26.8%), and in the controls were 245(69.6%), 107(30.4%). 2) There were no differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies of COMT gene polymorphism among the 3 groups. Neither patients with schizophrenia nor bipolar disorder differed in the genotype and allelic frequencies from the controls. CONCLUSION: These results suggest COMT gene polymorphism is not causally related to the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a Korean Population.
