Nature Genetics
11, 325 - 327 (1995)
doi:10.1038/ng1195-325
Evaluation of a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia on chromosome 6p by multipoint affected sib−pair linkage analysisSibylle G. Schwab1, Margot Albus2, Joachim Hallmayer3, Sabine Hönig1, Margitta Borrmann2, Dirk Lichtermann4, Richard P. Ebstein5, Manfred Ackenheil1, Bernard Lerer6, Neil Risch3, Wolfgang Maier4
& Dieter B. Wildenauer1
1Neurochemistry Unity Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336 München, Germany
2State Mental Hospital, D-85529 Hoar, Germany
3Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5120, USA
4Psychiatric Hospital, University of Mainz, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
5Sarah Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
6Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel Correspondence should be addressed to D.B.W. The influence of genetic factors in schizophrenia has been convincingly demonstrated by family, twin and adoption studies1−3, but the mode of transmission remains uncertain. The reported pattern of recurrence risks suggests a set of interacting loci4. Based on prior evidence for linkage on chromosome 6p (K. Kendler, pers. comm.), we have scanned the short arm of chromosome 6 in 54 families for loci predisposing to schizophrenia, using 25 microsatellite markers spanning 60 centiMorgans (cM). Allele sharing identity by descent was examined in affected sib-pairs from these families, followed by multipoint sib-pair linkage analysis. Positive lod scores were obtained over a wide region (D6S470 to D6S271), with a maximum lod score of 2.2 occuring near D6S274, located in 6p22. However, we obtained a lod score of -2 at D6S296, the locus found by others to provide the greatest linkage evidence5. At D6S274, we report a positive lod score as do Straub et al.5 (individually non-significant). A combined total lod of 3.6−4.0 suggests the possibility of a susceptibility locus in this region. However, methodological differences between our studies makes a firm conclusion difficult.
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