ObjectiveTo test the the association between PRODH gene variant rs385440 and the susceptibility to schizophrenia and the severity of schizophrenia in Guangxi Zhuang and Han population,further exploring the genetic mechanisms of schizophrenia in Guangxi Zhuang and Han population.MethodsThe schizophrenia patients were diagnosed according to ICD-10 criteria in this study.The subjects in the association analysis were 282 unrelated schizophrenia patients(94 Zhuang and 188 Han) and 282 healthy controls (94 Zhuang and 188 Han).A quantitative real-time PCR TaqMan MGB experimental method was carried out to analysis rs385440.The clinical psychotic symptoms of 246 schizophrenia patients (83 Zhuang and 163 Han) were assessed by PANSS.Statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS13.0 for windows.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in different allele and genotype frequencies of rs385440 between schizophrenia cases and controls in Zhuang samples,Han samples and combined samples respectively (P＞ 0.05 ).In Zhuang schizophrenia patients the score of N4 (passive/apathetic social withdrawal) item in A allele carriers (3.28 ± 1.34) was higher than that of G allele carriers ( 2.40 ± 1.36 ) significantly (P ＜ 0.05 ),and the score of G12 ( lack of judgment and insight) item in A allele carriers(4.92 ± 1.55 ) was higher than that of G allele carriers ( 4.12 ± 1.85 ) significantly (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion There is no association between PRODH gene variant rs385440 and the susceptibility to schizophrenia in Guangxi Zhuang and Han population.Rs385440 associated the severity of passive/apathetic social withdrawal symptom and poor attention symptom of schizophrenia in Zhuang.

Objective To explore the association of catechol-O-methyhransferase(COMT) gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia susceptibility and its symptoms assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)in southern Chinese population.Methods COMT gene rs4633,rs4680 and rs8185002 polymorphisms were genotyped using Sequenom genotyping technology in 700 schizophrenia patients (300 Zhuang and 400 Han) and 700 healthy controls (300 Zhuang and 400 Han),and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used for clinical symptoms assessment of patients.Statistical analysis was performed using PLINK software.Results rs4633,rs4680 and rs8185002 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with schizophrenia susceptibility in Zhuang or Han population respectively(P＞0.05).After merging Zhuang and Han samples,rs4633(I 2 =0.000,Pmeta =0.040) and rs4680 (I2=0.000,Pmeta =0.014) were significantly associated with the susceptibility to schizophrenia.In addition,haplotype T-A-T was significantly associated with schizophrenia susceptibility (P=0.049).However,these three polymorphisms were not significantly associated with total score,positive scale score,negative scale score and general psychopathology scale score assessed by PANSS(P＞0.05).Conclusion COMT gene rs4633 and rs4680 polymorphisms are involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia in southern Chinese population.