Prediction of clinical symptoms of schizophrenia based on COMT methylation marker
Introduction: The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is based on the fact that hyper-dopaminergic state is involved in causing psychosis and antipsychotic drugs block the dopamine receptor. COMT regulates the homeostatic levels of neurotransmitter dopamine in the synapses and plays a role in the n...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/59599/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/59599/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/59599/1/Abstract%20ID2%20Poster%20MRS2017.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/59599/2/HUDA%20MRS%20POSTER%201.pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia is based on the fact that hyper-dopaminergic state is involved in causing psychosis and antipsychotic drugs block the dopamine receptor. COMT regulates the homeostatic levels of neurotransmitter dopamine in the synapses and plays a role in the neurocognitive function. The dysregulation of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex influences the cognitive function and the severity of the psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia. During epigenetic event, methylated COMT gene may cause reduction in its expression and thus contribute to the clinical presentation in schizophrenia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using COMT DNA methylation for prediction of specific psychotic presentations of schizophrenia.
Materials and method: In this study, 138 schizophrenia patients were recruited from the Psychiatry Clinic, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Kuantan Pahang. Genomic DNA from the peripheral blood was subjected to the Methylight Taqman® analysis for quantitative measurement of the COMT DNA methylation. The psychopathological symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Results: The regression analysis showed that the Positive and Excited subdomains of PANSS were significant predictors of COMT hypomethylation (β= -0.288, p= -0.031; β= -0.288, p= -0.031). The Excited subdomain of PANSS was negatively correlated with COMT DNA methylation (r2= -0.380, p= 0.000) as well as the Depressed subdomain (r2= -0.288, p= 0.001).
Conclusion: The relationship between the DNA methylation of COMT with the positive, excited and depressed symptoms might indicate the epigenetic role of COMT gene in the manifestation of schizophrenia. |
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