Sarah E Bergen1, Tracey L Petryshen. 1. Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Human Genetics Research, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of schizophrenia have been published in the past 6 years, with a number of key reports published in the last year. The studies have evolved in scale from small individual samples to large collaborative endeavors. This review aims to critically assess whether the results have improved as the sample size and scale of genetic association studies have grown. RECENT FINDINGS: Genomic genotyping and increasing sample sizes for schizophrenia association studies have led to parallel increases in the number of risk genes discovered with high statistical confidence. Nearly 20 genes or loci have surpassed the genome-wide significance threshold (P = 5 × 10) in a single study, and several have been replicated in more than one GWAS. SUMMARY: Identifying the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases offers insight into the etiological mechanisms leading to manifestation of the disease. New and more effective treatments for schizophrenia are desperately needed, and the ability to target the relevant biological processes grows with our understanding of the genes involved. As the size of GWAS samples has increased, more genes have been identified with high confidence that have begun to provide insight into the etiological and pathophysiological foundations of this disorder.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of schizophrenia have been published in the past 6 years, with a number of key reports published in the last year. The studies have evolved in scale from small individual samples to large collaborative endeavors. This review aims to critically assess whether the results have improved as the sample size and scale of genetic association studies have grown. RECENT FINDINGS: Genomic genotyping and increasing sample sizes for schizophrenia association studies have led to parallel increases in the number of risk genes discovered with high statistical confidence. Nearly 20 genes or loci have surpassed the genome-wide significance threshold (P = 5 × 10) in a single study, and several have been replicated in more than one GWAS. SUMMARY: Identifying the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases offers insight into the etiological mechanisms leading to manifestation of the disease. New and more effective treatments for schizophrenia are desperately needed, and the ability to target the relevant biological processes grows with our understanding of the genes involved. As the size of GWAS samples has increased, more genes have been identified with high confidence that have begun to provide insight into the etiological and pathophysiological foundations of this disorder.
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Authors: Keith E Szulwach; Xuekun Li; Richard D Smrt; Yujing Li; Yuping Luo; Li Lin; Nicholas J Santistevan; Wendi Li; Xinyu Zhao; Peng Jin Journal: J Cell Biol Date: 2010-04-05 Impact factor: 10.539
Authors: Lavinia Athanasiu; Morten Mattingsdal; Anna K Kähler; Andrew Brown; Omar Gustafsson; Ingrid Agartz; Ina Giegling; Pierandrea Muglia; Sven Cichon; Marcella Rietschel; Olli P H Pietiläinen; Leena Peltonen; Elvira Bramon; David Collier; David St Clair; Engilbert Sigurdsson; Hannes Petursson; Dan Rujescu; Ingrid Melle; Vidar M Steen; Srdjan Djurovic; Ole A Andreassen Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2010-02-24 Impact factor: 4.791
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