Open AccessConvergent Evidence for 2′,3′-Cyclic Nucleotide 3′-Phosphodiesterase as a Possible Susceptibility Gene for Schizophrenia
Author(s) -
T. Peirce,
Nick Bray,
Nigel Williams,
Nadine Norton,
Valentina Moskvina,
Anna Preece,
Vahram Haroutunian,
Joseph D. Buxbaum,
Michael John Owen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
archives of general psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1538-3636
pISSN - 0003-990X
DOI - 10.1001/archpsyc.63.1.18
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , oligodendrocyte , allele , genetics , biology , genotype , genetic association , gene , medicine , endocrinology , psychiatry , myelin , central nervous system
Convergent data make 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) a candidate gene for schizophrenia. Reduced expression has been reported in the schizophrenic brain. The CNP gene maps to a region to which we have reported linkage to schizophrenia. Mice in which the CNP gene has been knocked out display central nervous system pathological characteristics reminiscent of some features observed in schizophrenia. 2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase is used as a marker of myelin-forming cells and is detectable in cells of oligodendrocyte lineage throughout life. Because CNP is thought to be important for oligodendrocyte function, altered expression has been interpreted as supportive of the hypothesis that altered oligodendrocyte function may be an etiological factor in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether the observed changes in the schizophrenic brain are primary or secondary.