POTENTIAL LINKAGE FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA ON CHROMOSOME 22Q12-Q13 - A REPLICATION STUDY

In an attempt to replicate a potential linkage on chromosome 22q12q13. 1 reported by Pulver et al. [1994: Am J Med Genet 54:36-43], we have a nalyzed 4 microsatellite markers which span this chromosomal region, i ncluding the IL2RB locus, for linkage with schizophrenia in 30 familie s from Israel and Germany. Linkage analysis by pairwise lod score anal ysis as well as by multipoint analysis did not provide evidence for a single major gene locus. However, a lod score of Z(max) = 0.612 was ob tained for a dominant model of inheritance with the marker D22S304 at recombination fraction 0.2 by pairwise analysis, In addition, using a nonparametric method, sib pair analysis, a P value of 0.068 correspond ing to a led score of 0.48 was obtained for this marker This finding, together with those of Pulver et al. [1994: Am J Med Genet 54:36-43] a nd Goon et al. [1994:Am J Med Genet 54:72-79] is suggestive of a genet ic factor in this region, predisposing for schizophrenia in a subset o f families. Further studies using nonparametric methods should be cond ucted in order to clarify this point. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.