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Analysis of a polymorphism in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: further support for an association with schizophrenia

Molecular Psychiatry volume 8, pages 718–720 (2003)Cite this article

Sir – Activation of the inflammatory response system has been observed in the schizophrenia and affective disorders.1,2 Investigations of the role of the inflammatory response in these psychiatric disorders include analysis of the immune mediators at the gene level, so the genetic polymorphism of specific cytokine loci has been investigated in psychiatric disorders.3,4 Recently, Boin et al5 investigated a biallelic variant (−G308A) of the TNF-α gene directly related to increased production of these cytokines, and found a significant association with schizophrenia. Interestingly, the TNF-α gene is located in the region 6p21.1–21.3, near the HLA region, where linkage and association studies have suggested a locus of susceptibility to schizophrenia.6

In the present investigation, we performed a cross-sectional study to verify whether the −G308A TNF-α gene polymorphism was associated with a predisposition to schizophrenia and/or bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) in a Brazilian sample.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neuroscience-LIM27, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

    I V Meira-Lima & H Vallada

  2. Laboratory of Genetic and Molecular Cardiology, Heart Institute (InCOR), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil

    A C Pereira, G F Mota, M Floriano, F Araújo, A J Mansur & J E Krieger

Authors
  1. I V Meira-Lima
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  2. A C Pereira
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  3. G F Mota
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  4. M Floriano
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  5. F Araújo
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  6. A J Mansur
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  7. J E Krieger
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  8. H Vallada
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Correspondence to H Vallada.

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Meira-Lima, I., Pereira, A., Mota, G. et al. Analysis of a polymorphism in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: further support for an association with schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry 8, 718–720 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001309

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