DAOA variants and schizophrenia: Influence on diagnosis and treatment outcomes

Abstract

Objective. The present study explored whether d-amino acid oxidase activator (DAOA) variants were associated with schizophrenia and whether they could predict the clinical outcomes of patients treated with various antipsychotics. Methods. Two hundred and twenty-one (221) patients with schizophrenia and 170 psychiatrically healthy controls were genotyped for seven DAOA single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3916966, rs3916967, rs2391191, rs3916968, rs7139958, rs9558571 and rs778293). We also administered baseline and final clinical measures, including the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), to patients with schizophrenia. Results. None of the SNPs under investigation was associated with the development of schizophrenia. However, the rs7139958 AA and rs9558571 TT as well as the rs7139958 A and rs9558571 T genotypes were associated with higher scores on the PANSS positive subscale among patients with schizophrenia, possibly reflecting their greater susceptibility to the development of more severe positive symptoms. No other allele, genotype, or haplotype under investigation was significantly associated with any of the clinical parameters, including clinical improvement, in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion. Our results suggested that rs7139958 and rs9558571 SNPs may be associated with more severe baseline positive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, further research is needed to draw more definitive conclusions given the limitations of our study.

Key Words::

• DAOA
• clinical improvement
• treatment response
• schizophrenia

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Center, Korea Science and Engineering Foundation, Republic of Korea (R13-2002-005-04001-0) and the Korean Health 21 R & D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (A050047).

Statement of Interest

None.