Age-associated defects in schizophrenia identified
March 2nd, 2010 - 5:13 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Mar 2 (ANI): In a report, scientists have claimed that a powerful gene network analysis has revealed surprising new insights into how gene regulation and age play a role in schizophrenia.
The study has been published online in Genome Research March 2, 2010.
In the work, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Elizabeth Thomas of The Scripps Research Institute has taken a novel approach to this problem, performing a gene network-based analysis that revealed surprising insight into schizophrenia development.
The group analyzed gene expression data from the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with schizophrenia, sampled post-mortem from normal individuals and schizophrenia patients ranging from 19 to 81 years old. However, instead of just looking at genes individually, Thomas and colleagues at the Scripps Translational Science Institute, Nicholas Schork and Ali Torkamani, considered interactions between genes, as well as groups of genes that showed similar patterns of expression, to identify dysfunctional cellular pathways in schizophrenia.
“Once gene co-expression networks are identified,” said Thomas, “we can then ask how they are affected by factors such as age or drug treatment, or if they are associated with particular cell types in the brain.”
The gene network analysis suggested that normal individuals and schizophrenia patients have an unexpectedly similar connectivity between genes, but the most surprising finding was a significant link between aging and gene expression patterns in schizophrenia. The team identified several groups of co-expressed genes that behaved differently in schizophrenia patients compared to normal subjects when age was considered.
A particularly striking age-related difference in co-expression was found in a group of 30 genes related to developmental processes of the nervous system. Normally these genes are turned off as a person ages, but in schizophrenia patients the genes remain active. This critical finding strongly suggests that age-related aberrant regulation of genes important for development can explain at least part of the manifestation of schizophrenia. (ANI)
- Genetic deletion identified as major risk factor for autism, schizophrenia - Nov 05, 2010
- Unusual genes behind schizophrenia identified - Jul 11, 2011
- Gene discovery could lead to healthier food, better biofuel production - Nov 23, 2010
- New study shows evidence of stem cells' pivotal role in cancer - Dec 22, 2010
- Genes that hold key to a long, healthy life identified - Apr 15, 2011
- Genetic variations lined to brain size - Aug 19, 2009
- Genetic variant that substantially increases schizophrenia risk identified - Aug 06, 2010
- Genes can tell which kidney transplant recipients don't need lifelong drugs - May 25, 2010
- 'Runaway' development could compromise function of the aging brain - Jul 20, 2010
- Psychotic illness 'begins at younger age among those who use cannabis' - Feb 08, 2011
- Childhood obesity genes identified - Apr 12, 2012
- Potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia identified - Feb 24, 2011
- Largest genetic study of anorexia nervosa detects common, rare variants - Nov 20, 2010
- Researchers identify gene linked to schizophrenia - Dec 16, 2009
- Specific changes in the brain linked to sleep deprivation - Nov 04, 2010
Tags: cellular pathways, developmental processes, elizabeth thomas, gene expression data, gene expression patterns, gene network, gene regulation, genome research, new insights, novel approach, person ages, post mortem, prefrontal cortex, professor elizabeth, report scientists, schizophrenia, schizophrenia patients, schork, science institute, scripps research institute