Gene Promoter DNA Methylations and Their Relationships With Endophenotypes in Patients With Schizophrenia

NCT01362478 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 99083
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Schizophrenia is a disabling mental disease affecting about 1% of the worldwide population. There is an overall heritability estimate of 68% for the underlying liability to schizophrenia. Molecular epigenetic studies can overcome the complexities of traditional genetic studies and provide a new framework for the search of etiological factors in schizophrenia. DNA methylation provides an example of an epigenetic process that affects gene expression. Several postmortem experiments have found that increased DNA methylation at the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and reelin promoter, and hypomethylation of membrane-bound catechol-O-methyltransferase (MB-COMT) promoter gene in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients. Because it is impossible to obtain brain tissue from schizophrenia patients clinically, the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) can partly represent the brain gene expression. It has been reported to use PBMC as biomarkers for epigenetic abnormalities, such as histone acetylation and methylation, in schizophrenia. To the investigators best knowledge, gene promoter DNA methylation abnormalities in schizophrenia have been limited to postmortem study. It warrants to studying the DNA methylation using schizophrenia's PBMC. Recently, endophenotype strategy has emerged as an important tool in understanding the genetic architecture of schizophrenia. Some cognitive functions, such as attention and working memory (WM), have been used as candidate endophenotypes for genetic studies in schizophrenia. Synchronized GABA neurotransmission in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is required for adequate attention and working memory, suggesting that impairments in GABA-mediated inhibition in the prefrontal cortex could contribute to the endophenotype presentations in schizophrenia.

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Keywords

schizophrenia; gene promoter; methylation; endophenotype; epigenetic

Study Arms (2)

Case group

Control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

schizophrenia patients

You may qualify if:

• age 20-65 year-old
• fulfill DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia

You may not qualify if:

• patients who are pregnant or have significant medical conditions
• unstable psychiatric features (e.g. suicidal), too agitation
• a history of substance abuse or drug addiction within the previous 6 months, with the exception of nicotine dependence.
• Control
• year-old
• to have major psychiatric disorder, such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, and substance use disorders, except nicotine
• to have family history of schizophrenia, mood disorders, and substance use disorders
• to have serious medical conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Taipei Medical University WanFang Hospital: lead

Study Sites (2)

WanFang Hospital, Taipei Medical University

Taipei, Taiwan, 116, Taiwan

RECRUITING

Taipei Medical University - WanFang Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan

NOT YET RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Gene promoter DNA methylations

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Chun-Hsin Chen

  Taipei Medical University WanFang Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Chun-Hsin Chen, MD

CONTACT

886-2-29307930; chunhsin57@yahoo.com.tw

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Staff, Department of Psychiatry

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 26, 2011
• First Posted: May 30, 2011
• Study Start: August 1, 2011
• Study Completion: July 1, 2014
• Last Updated: June 29, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-06

Locations

TW (2)