AUTHOR=Gou Ningzhi , Liu Zhening , Palaniyappan Lena , Li Mingding , Pan Yunzhi , Chen Xudong , Tao Haojuan , Wu Guowei , Ouyang Xuan , Wang Zheng , Dou Taotao , Xue Zhimin , Pu Weidan 

TITLE=Effects of DISC1 Polymorphisms on Resting-State Spontaneous Neuronal Activity in the Early-Stage of Schizophrenia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00137

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00137

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Localized abnormalities in the synchrony of spontaneous neuronal activity, measured with regional homogeneity (ReHo), has been consistently reported in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and their unaffected siblings. To date, little is known about the genetic influences affecting the spontaneous neuronal activity in SCZ. <italic>DISC1</italic>, a strong susceptible gene for SCZ, has been implicated in neuronal excitability and synaptic function possibly associated with regional spontaneous neuronal activity. This study aimed to examine the effects of <italic>DISC1</italic> variations on the regional spontaneous neuronal activity in SCZ.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Resting-state fMRI data were obtained from 28 SCZ patients and 21 healthy controls (HC) for ReHo analysis. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of <italic>DISC1</italic> gene were genotyped using the PCR and direct sequencing.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Significant diagnosis × genotype interactions were noted for three SNPs (rs821616, rs821617, and rs2738880). For rs821617, the interactions were localized to the precuneus, basal ganglia and pre-/post-central regions. Significant interactive effects were identified at the temporal and post-central gyri for rs821616 (Ser704Cys) and the inferior temporal gyrus for rs2738880. Furthermore, <italic>post-hoc</italic> analysis revealed that the <italic>DISC1</italic> variations on these SNPs exerted different influences on ReHo between SCZ patients and HC.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> To our knowledge this is the first study to unpick the influence of <italic>DISC1</italic> variations on spontaneous neuronal activity in SCZ; Given the emerging evidence that ReHo is a stable inheritable phenotype for schizophrenia, our findings suggest the DISC1 variations are possibly an inheritable source for the altered ReHo in this disorder.</p>