Novel variants in the promoter region of the CREB gene in schizophrenic patients.

Cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is one of the messenger molecules involved in intracellular signal transduction pathways used by most dopamine and serotonin receptor subtypes. In addition, CREB stimulates the expression of a number of genes, alterations in the expression of which may be associated with schizophrenia. The promoter region of the human CREB gene was therefore analyzed to identify genetic variants that may lead to the modification of CREB expression and contribute to schizophrenia. Eighty unrelated schizophrenics and 100 healthy controls were screened for genetic variants of the CREB gene by SSCP analysis, followed by direct sequencing of PCR products. Two novel variants (-933T-->C and -413G-->A) were found only in schizophrenics. A patient with the -933T-->C variant had unusual clinical characteristics in addition to typical schizophrenic symptoms.