Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 22 No. 2, 2010.
Conference paper
CATECHOL-O-METHYL TRANSFERASE AND SCHIZOPHRENIA
Marina Šagud
orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-2181
; 1School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia
Dorotea Műck-Šeler
; Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
Alma Mihaljević-Peleš
; 1School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia
Bjanka Vuksan-Ćusa
; 1School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Živković
; Neuropsychiatric Hospital “Dr. Ivan Barbot”, Popovača, Croatia
Miro Jakovljević
; 1School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia
Nela Pivac
; Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) is an enzyme involved in the degradation of dopamine. The most commonly examined polymorphism within the COMT gene is Val108/158Met polymorphism, which results in three to fourfold difference in COMT
enzyme activity. It is particularely important in prefrontal cortex, since COMT activity is the most important regulator of the prefrontal dopamine function. Given the association between schizophrenia and decreased dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex, it is not surprising that Val108/158Met polymorphism is among the most extensively investigated polymorphisms in schizophrenia. According to different studies, Val allele may be a small risk factor for schizophrenia. There is also some evidence that Val108/158Met polymorphism influences the age of onset of schizophrenia, cognitive function, severity of psychotic symptoms, as well as efficacy and adverse events of antipsychotics. Heterogenity of patient population has undoubtedly influenced the results of these studies. Interaction of Val108/158Met polymorphism with other genes and environmental factors is an important avenue for future research.
Keywords
COMT Val108/158Met polymorphism; schizophrenia; response to antipsychotics
Hrčak ID:
55697
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2010.
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