Definition-
According to NIH Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. The symptoms can be negative (hallucinations) and/or positive (social withdrawal) and appear generally in early adulthood but can have early onset as well.
Causes- Schizophrenia is complex disorder caused by multiple factors including- genetics (C4 gene), environmental factors (birth complications, prenatal infections, exposure to toxins, substance abuse like cannabis), neurochemical imbalance and stress (stress being a contributing factor not the complete cause of disease).
Although schizophrenia is incurable, combination of psychosocial therapy, work therapy with antipsychotic drugs helps in managing symptoms making living with schizophrenia possible.
Epigenetic and schizophrenia- epigenetics is study of environment and lifestyle choices affecting gene expression, epigenes act like switches and regulators of gene expression, it decides whether a gene will be expressed or not and if expressed then to what extent.
Methylation of gene causes switching ‘off’ of a gene without altering its position or sequence. Methylation of following genes has been reported in schizophrenic patients compared to controls-
RELN, GAD1- both are important in GABAergic pathway important for pacifying nerve activity,
DRD2- gene coding for Dopamine D2 receptor,
NR3C1- Glucocorticoid receptor modulates HPA axis,
MB-COMT promoter- have pivotal role in dopamine breakdown,
Methylation represses the expression of these genes. Differentially methylated positions and regions account for difference in patient’s response to different treatment options. Taking into consideration, epigenetics which forms the bridge between genetics and environment, will help us unlock the basic combination of genes and environmental factors which lead to schizophrenia disorder and its varied response to different treatment options.
Alterations in histone modifications and expressions of miRNAs were also observed in schizophrenic patient’s profile.
Are you aware of any environmental factor that affects your epigenetic profile?
MBH/PS