J Korean Soc Biol Psychiatry.  2002 Jul;9(1):62-67.

The association between Korean Schizophrenics and Catalase Gene Polymorphism

• Park JK
• Lee HK
• Bahn GH
• Park JD
• Chung JH
• Chang HI

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence that free radical-mediated CNS neuronal dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was performed to examine the relationship between antioxidant defense system and schizophrenia by analyzing polymorphism of catalase gene, an antioxidant enzyme. METHOD: Genotype and allele frequencies in the promoter region in the catalase gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism were studied, comparing 155 Korean controls with 167 Korean schizophrenics.
RESULTS
No difference was found between the schizophrenics and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of Hinf I polymorphism in the catalase gene. Significant difference was found between the female schizophrenics and the female controls in the genotype distribution (chi2=11.096, df=2, p=0.004).
CONCLUSIONS
The results do not support an association between polymorphism of catalase gene and schizophrenia. However, this study suggests that Hinf I polymorphism in the catalase gene could be associated with female schizophrenics.

MeSH Terms

Catalase*
Female
Gene Frequency
Genotype
Humans
Neurons
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Promoter Regions, Genetic
Schizophrenia
Catalase