What is it about?

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most common devastating psychiatric disorders that negatively affects the quality of life and psychosocial functions. Its etiology involves the interplay of complex polygenic influences and environmental risk factors. Inflammatory markers are well-known etiological factors for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (-308G/A) and TNF-β (+252A/G) polymorphisms with schizophrenia susceptibility. Methods: TNF-α and TNF-β genes were amplified using ARMS primers in 180 schizophrenia patients and 200 healthy matched controls recruited from psychiatry clinic of Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh. The frequencies of alleles and genotypes of (TNF)-α (-308G/A) and TNF-β (+252A/G) polymorphisms in patients were compared with those in controls. Results: The frequencies of TNF-α (-308) allele A and genotype GA were significantly higher while those of allele G and genotype GG lower in schizophrenia patients as compared to controls indicating that genotype GA and allele A of TNF-α(-308G/A) may increase susceptibility to schizophrenia while genotype GG and allele G may reduce it. On the other hand the distribution of alleles and genotypes of TNF-β (+252A/G) polymorphism does not differ significantly in patients from controls, however the frequency of genotype GG of TNF-β (+252A/G) was significantly higher in male as compared to female patients. The distribution of TNF-α (-308G/A) and TNF-β (+252A/G) polymorphisms was almost similar in schizophrenia patients with negative or positive symptoms. Conclusion: TNF-α (-308G/A) and TNF-β (+252G/A) polymorphisms may increase the susceptibility to schizophrenia in Saudi patients and could be potential risk factor for its etiopathogenesis. However, further studies are warranted involving larger sample size to strengthen our findings.

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Why is it important?

TNF-α (-308G/A) and TNF-β (+252G/A) polymorphisms may increase the susceptibility to schizophrenia in Saudi patients and could be potential risk factor for its etiopathogenesis.

Perspectives

Schizophrenia is one of the most common devastating psychiatric disorders that negatively affects the quality of life and psychosocial functions. Its etiology involves the interplay of complex polygenic influences and environmental risk factors. Inflammatory markers are well-known etiological factors for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. This study will help to understand the genetic aspect of Schizophrenia

Dr Misbahul Arfin
Prince Sultan Military medical City, Riyadh

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This page is a summary of: Tumor necrosis factor-α and -β genetic polymorphisms as a risk factor in Saudi patients with schizophrenia, April 2017, Dove Medical Press,
DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s131144.
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