Duplications of the neuropeptide receptor gene VIPR2 confer significant risk for schizophrenia

Nature. 2011 Mar 24;471(7339):499-503. doi: 10.1038/nature09884. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Abstract

Rare copy number variants (CNVs) have a prominent role in the aetiology of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Substantial risk for schizophrenia is conferred by large (>500-kilobase) CNVs at several loci, including microdeletions at 1q21.1 (ref. 2), 3q29 (ref. 3), 15q13.3 (ref. 2) and 22q11.2 (ref. 4) and microduplication at 16p11.2 (ref. 5). However, these CNVs collectively account for a small fraction (2-4%) of cases, and the relevant genes and neurobiological mechanisms are not well understood. Here we performed a large two-stage genome-wide scan of rare CNVs and report the significant association of copy number gains at chromosome 7q36.3 with schizophrenia. Microduplications with variable breakpoints occurred within a 362-kilobase region and were detected in 29 of 8,290 (0.35%) patients versus 2 of 7,431 (0.03%) controls in the combined sample. All duplications overlapped or were located within 89 kilobases upstream of the vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor gene VIPR2. VIPR2 transcription and cyclic-AMP signalling were significantly increased in cultured lymphocytes from patients with microduplications of 7q36.3. These findings implicate altered vasoactive intestinal peptide signalling in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and indicate the VPAC2 receptor as a potential target for the development of new antipsychotic drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / genetics
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • DNA Copy Number Variations / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage / genetics
  • Genes, Duplicate / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Inheritance Patterns / genetics
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II / genetics*
  • Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Schizophrenia / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II
  • VIPR2 protein, human
  • Cyclic AMP