The use of subtraction libraries for the identification of RNA species upregulated in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a brain disease of unknown etiology. It is likely that ind ividuals with schizophrenia express RNAs within their brain tissues which d iffer qualitatively and quantitatively from the RNAs expressed by unaffecte d individuals. We developed a series of brain subtraction libraries which a re enriched for RNAs which are differentially expressed by individuals with schizophrenia. Analysis of these libraries identified a number of RNA spec ies associated with brain function and the inflammatory response. In additi on, we identified a number of novel RNAs which have not been previously cha racterized. The identification of brain RNAs which are disease associated m ight lead to new modalities for the diagnosis and treatment of schizophreni a.