Abstract

NCAM1 genetic polymorphisms and association with bipolar disorder

Vawter, MP et al
International Congress on Schizophrenia Research . 2005:Schizophrenia Bulletin 31(2): 279-279.

NCAM1 is involved in multiple neural functions such as synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment processes, memory, long-term potentiation, and neurogenesis. The brain expression of certain NCAM1 isoforms is altered in bipolar disorder while different NCAM1 isoforms are altered in schizophrenia [reviewed in Vawter, M., Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Sep 29;405(1-3):385-95]. Recently, several single nucleotide polymorphisms were strongly associated with bipolar disorder in the Japanese population [Arai, M. et al., Biol Psychiatry. 2004 Apr 15;55(8):804-10.]. We are conducting a case-control study of bipolar disorder in a Caucasian sample using the same SNPs found to be strongly associated in the Japanese population with bipolar disorder. If we can replicate the Japanese finding, the next question to be pursued is what mechanisms might be responsible for conferring risk for bipolar disorder within the NCAM1 gene. We will report the results of the SNP association study in bipolar disorder.

http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/31/2/183