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Gene-environment interplay in schizopsychotic disorders

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Abstract

Genetic studies have sought to identify subtypes or endophenotypes of schizophrenia in an effort to improve the reliability of findings. A number of chromosomal regions or genes have now been shown to have had replicated linkage to schizophrenia susceptibility. Molecules involved in neurodevelopment or neurotransmitter function are coded by many of the genes that have been implicated in schizophrenia. Studies of neurotransmitter function have identified, among others, a possible role for GABA, glutamate and dopamine in animal models of schizophrenia. GABA neurons that co-express the calcium binding protein parvalbumin have been implicated as have glutamatergic metabotropic receptors and dopamine D3 receptors. Stress influences glutamate and dopamine providing another environmental factor that may interact with the influence of genes on neurotransmitter function. Neurotransmitter interactions include influences on signaling molecules and these too have been implicated in forms of learning thought to be affected in schizophrenia. Results continue to unravel the interplay of genes and environment in the etiology of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio Psiquiátrico, Hospital Universitario, 12 de Octubre, Avda. de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain

    Tomas Palomo

  2. Dept. Psychology, University of Göteborg, Box 500, SE-40530, Göteborg, Sweden

    Trevor Archer

  3. Dept. Pharmacology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State Univ., 37614, Johnson City, TN, USA

    Richard M. Kostrzewa

  4. Depts. Psychology and Psychiatry, Queen’s Univ., K7L 3N6, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Richard J. Beninger

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  1. Tomas Palomo
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Correspondence to Richard J. Beninger.

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Palomo, T., Archer, T., Kostrzewa, R.M. et al. Gene-environment interplay in schizopsychotic disorders. neurotox res 6, 1–9 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033291

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