Association of alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor and heavy smoking in schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Previously we suggested that the CHRNA7 polymorphism in nicotinic receptor genes, in particular the D15S1360 in CHRNA7, is associated with smoking in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia patients are usually heavy smokers. In this study we hypothesized that high-affinity nicotinic receptors are associated with smoking in such patients.

Objective

To investigate the role of alpha4 (Ch 20) and beta2 (Ch 1) genes in conferring a risk for smoking and for smoking a large number of cigarettes daily in subjects with schizophrenia.

Methods

Our study sample consisted of 241 white European schizophrenia patients (157 smokers and 84 nonsmokers) from the Toronto area. Current smoking status was assessed by the medical history. We investigated 4 markers located in the CHRNA4 g

SUBMITTER: Voineskos S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2077346 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature