Association and linkage studies of candidate genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission in lithium-responsive bipolar disorder

• Published in: Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 353 - 358
• Main Authors: DUFFY, Anne, TURECKI, Gustavo, LIBIGEROVA, Eva, VOJTECHOVSKY, Milos, ZVOLSKY, Petr, NILSSON, Agneta, LICHT, Rasmus W, RASMUSSEN, Nils A, SCHOU, Mogens, VESTERGAARD, Per, HOLZINGER, Anita, SCHUMANN, Claudia, GROF, Paul, THAU, Kenneth, ROBERTSON, Carrie, ROULEAU, Guy A, ALDA, Martin, CAVAZZONI, Patrizia, GROF, Eva, JOOBER, Ridha, AHRENS, Bernd, BERGHÖFER, Anne, MÜLLER-OERLINGHAUSE, Bruno, DVORAKOVA, Marta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, ON Canadian Medical Association 01.09.2000; CMA Impact, Inc
• Subjects: Alleles; Antimanic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - drug therapy; Bipolar Disorder - genetics; Female; Gabaergic and benzodiazepinic system; Gene Expression - genetics; Genetic Linkage; Genetics; Humans; Lithium - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Neurotransmitters. Neurotransmission. Receptors; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Receptors, GABA - genetics; Synaptic Transmission - genetics; Mood disorder; Human; Linkage; Treatment efficiency; Gabaergic transmission; Lithium; Bipolar disorder; Genetic determinism; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Mood stabilizer; Maintenance treatment; Chromosome association; Genetics; Clinical investigation; Comparative study; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 1180-4882; 1488-2434

To test for genetic linkage and association with GABAergic candidate genes in lithium-responsive bipolar disorder. Polymorphisms located in genes that code for GABRA3, GABRA5 and GABRB3 subunits of the GABAA receptor were investigated using association and linkage strategies. A total of 138 patients with bipolar 1 disorder with a clear response to lithium prophylaxis, selected from specialized lithium clinics in Canada and Europe that are part of the International Group for the Study of Lithium-Treated Patients, and 108 psychiatrically healthy controls. Families of 24 probands were suitable for linkage analysis. The association between the candidate genes and patients with bipolar disorder versus that of controls and genetic linkage within families. There was no significant association or linkage found between lithium-responsive bipolar disorder and the GABAergic candidate genes investigated. This study does not support a major role for the GABAergic candidate genes tested in lithium-responsive bipolar disorder.