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Meta-analysis shows association between the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene and schizophrenia

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Abstract

A number of studies have suggested an association between schizophrenia and the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) genes. On the other hand, several studies attempting to replicate these findings have produced mixed results, possibly reflecting inadequate statistical power of the individual studies as well as the heterogeneity inherent in schizophrenia. In an attempt to clarify this inconsistency our meta-analysis has combined all the studies using multiple research methods published up to February 2006 to give a comprehensive picture of the role of three hydroxylase-related genes. The TPH A218C/A779C (OR = 1.18, 95% C.I. 1.06–1.33, P = 0.004) revealed a significant association with schizophrenia. However, the evidence for the TH and phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) genes was weak. No publication bias was detected in current studies. The findings, which may implicate the involvement of TPH in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, have potentially important clinical, scientific and public health implications as well as providing a putative basis for the study of hydroxylase-related drugs. To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis of association between the three genes and schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National 973 and 863 programs, the Ministry of Education, PRC, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-X Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Hao Ran Building, 1954 Hua Shan Road, Shanghai, 200030, People’s Republic of China

    Dawei Li & Lin He

  2. Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 294 Taiyuan Road, Shanghai, 200031, People’s Republic of China

    Dawei Li & Lin He

  3. NHGG Bio-X Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200030, People’s Republic of China

    Lin He

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  1. Dawei Li
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Correspondence to Lin He.

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Li, D., He, L. Meta-analysis shows association between the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene and schizophrenia. Hum Genet 120, 22–30 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-006-0190-5

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