OBJECTIVETo assess the association of neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 4 (NEDD4) with schizophrenia.

METHODSFive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NEDD4 gene were genotyped by TaqMan SNP genotyping assay in an independent sample of 464 individuals with schizophrenia and 487 healthy controls from eastern Han Chinese population. Clinical data were collected with a general information questionnaire and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

RESULTSFrequencies of rs3088077 (allelic: χ2=18.024, P=0.000; genotypic: χ2=16.634, P=0.000), rs7162435 (allelic: χ2=6.771, P=0.009; genotypic: χ2=7.352, P=0.025) and rs2303579 (allelic: χ2=11.253, P=0.001; genotypic: χ2=12.248, P=0.002) were found to be significant different between the two groups. Moreover, TT of rs7162435 was significantly correlated with scores of factors of excitement and hostility (14.53±3.925, F=3.551, P=0.029).

CONCLUSIONrs3088077, rs7162435 and rs2303579 of the NEDD4 gene may be associated with schizophrenia. Moreover, the TT genotype of rs7162435 may increase the severity of excitement and hostility. Our results may provide a clue for delineating the connection between the glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia and ubiquitination.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia ; enzymology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics ; Young Adult