Alterations in two genes increase risk for schizophrenia
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People who refuse to let schizophrenia control their lives can help themselves fight the disease if they buy Canadian Zyprexa. A growing body of research indicates that a combination of several altered genes - not just one - contributes to the development of this illness. A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that changes in two genes in particular can increase the risk for schizophrenia.
Previous research indicated that major alterations in the gene DISC1 can cause mental illness, but these changes are rare, according to the study team. They decided to see how modifications to another gene, FEZ1, may interact with DISC1.
The team decreased the levels of FEZ1 in the brain cells of mouse models. Consequently, these cells were larger and grew longer in an attempt to connect with other cells, a mechanism that's also witnessed in neurons with low levels of DISC1.
After recording these observations, the scientists reviewed data compiled by the Genetic Association Information Network database. They discovered that specific single-letter changes to the DNA sequences of both FEZ1 and DISC1 can combine and increase one's risk for schizophrenia by 2.5 times, as published in the journal Neuron.
"Finding sets of proteins, like FEZ1 and DISC1, that synergistically work together to cause disease will...give us new drug targets to develop new therapies," said researcher Hongjun Song, PhD.
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