Journal of Molecular Neuroscience

, Volume 50, Issue 2, pp 345–352 | Cite as

Association Between Neurotensin Receptor 1 (NTR1) Gene Polymorphisms and Schizophrenia in a Han Chinese Population

  • Hui Ma
  • Yinglin Huang
  • Bo Zhang
  • Jingying Li
  • Yuan Wang
  • Xiaofeng Zhao
  • Qiu Jin
  • Gang Zhu
Article
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Abstract

Neurotensin (NT) is a multifunctional gut hormone, neurotransmitter, and neuromodulator that triggers many physiological responses by binding to the high-affinity neurotensin receptor 1 (NTR1). Previous studies have implicated the roles of NT and NTR1 in the etiology or expression of schizophrenia. This case–control study examined the associations between schizophrenia and three NTR1 gene polymorphisms (rs6090453C/G, rs6011914C/G, and rs2427422A/G) previously linked to working memory performance in a Han Chinese population. These three polymorphisms were genotyped in 390 schizophrenic patients and 565 healthy subjects. Compared with those of the controls, the frequencies for C allele in the rs6090453C/G polymorphism were higher in the schizophrenic patients (p = 0.049) and their female subgroup (p = 0.014). The frequencies for the rs6090453C/rs6011914G/rs2427422G (CGG) haplotype were also higher in the patients (p = 0.016) and their female subgroup (p = 0.005). Moreover, in the female subgroup, the frequencies for the rs6090453G/rs6011914C/rs2427422G (GCG) haplotype were higher in the controls (p = 0.028). Our results suggest that the C allele (CC or CG genotype) in the rs6090453C/G polymorphism and the CGG haplotype may enhance schizophrenia susceptibility in the Han Chinese population, while the GCG haplotype may be a protective factor, particularly in females.

Keywords

Neurotensin receptor 1 Gene polymorphism Schizophrenia 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from a project of Liaoning SHIBAIQIAN high-end talent, a grant from Liaoning Science & Technology project (2011408004), and a grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81271442) for Prof. Gang Zhu. The authors thank all the volunteers for taking part in this study.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hui Ma
    • 1
    • 2
  • Yinglin Huang
    • 1
  • Bo Zhang
    • 1
  • Jingying Li
    • 1
    • 3
  • Yuan Wang
    • 1
  • Xiaofeng Zhao
    • 1
  • Qiu Jin
    • 1
  • Gang Zhu
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of PsychiatryThe First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
  2. 2.Center for Mental HealthYanshan UniversityQinhuangdaoChina
  3. 3.Department of Scientific Research and Subject ConstructionShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina

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