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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Schizophrenia | Research article

Association between NRGN gene polymorphism and resting-state hippocampal functional connectivity in schizophrenia

Authors: Yifan Zhang, Xiaohong Gong, Zhiyang Yin, Lingling Cui, Jian Yang, Pengshuo Wang, Yifang Zhou, Xiaowei Jiang, Shengnan Wei, Fei Wang, Yanqing Tang

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Based on genome-wide association studies, a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the NRGN gene (rs12807809) is considered associated with schizophrenia (SZ). Moreover, hippocampal dysfunction is associated with rs12807809. In addition, converging evidence suggests that hippocampal dysfunction is involved in SZ pathophysiology. However, the association among rs12807809, hippocampal dysfunction and SZ pathophysiology is unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the association between rs12807809 and hippocampal functional connectivity at rest in SZ.

Methods

In total, 158 participants were studied, including a C-carrier group carrying the non-risk C allele (29 SZ patients and 46 healthy controls) and a TT homozygous group carrying the risk T allele (30 SZ patients and 53 healthy controls). All participants were scanned using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Hippocampal functional connectivity was computed and compared among the 4 groups.

Results

Significant main effects of diagnosis were observed in the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and bilateral fusiform gyrus, bilateral lingual gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, left caudate nucleus, bilateral thalamus and bilateral anterior cingulate gyri. In contrast, no significant main effect of genotype was found. In addition, a significant genotype by diagnosis interaction in the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and left anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as bilateral middle cingulate gyri, was observed, with TT homozygotes with SZ showing less functional connectivity than C-carriers with SZ and healthy control TT homozygotes.

Conclusions

These findings are the first to suggest an association between rs12807809 and abnormal Papez circuit function in patients with SZ. This study also implicates NRGN variation and abnormal Papez circuit function in SZ pathophysiology.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Association between NRGN gene polymorphism and resting-state hippocampal functional connectivity in schizophrenia
Authors
Yifan Zhang
Xiaohong Gong
Zhiyang Yin
Lingling Cui
Jian Yang
Pengshuo Wang
Yifang Zhou
Xiaowei Jiang
Shengnan Wei
Fei Wang
Yanqing Tang
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Schizophrenia
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2088-5

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