Objectives:Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) plays an important role in folate metabolism, and the
C677T and A1298C single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) of the MTHFR gene may be associated with schizophrenia.
The relationship between MTHFR SNPs and schizophrenia is unclear in Korean schizophrenic patients.
The purpose in this study was to determine the association between the MTHFR gene SNPs and schizophrenia in
Korean patients.
Methods:Three hundred and sixty six patients with schizophrenia and 359 normal control subjects were used to
identify the SNPs. Genetic analysis was carried out in the C677T and A1298C SNP regions using the SNP-ITTM assay.
The allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies were compared between the two groups. The subgroups were
divided on the basis of the onset age, and the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies were individually compared
among the subgroups.
Results:Gene variation of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C SNPs did not show significant differences between
the schizophrenic patients and controls. In addition, no association between their SNPs and the onset age of schizophrenia
was found.
Conclusion:A genetic association between the C677T and A1298C SNPs on the MTHFR gene and Korean schizophrenic
patients was not found in this study.