본 연구에서는 정신분열병과 antioxidant defense system사이의 관련성을 알아보기 위해 항산화 효소(antioxidant enzyme)중의 하나인 CAT의 유전자 다형성을 한국인 정신분열병 환자군과 대조군 사이에서 비교 분석하였다. 환자군과 대조군의 HinfI 다형성에 따른 CAT유전자형과 대립유전자형의 빈도는 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 없었지만, 여성 정신분열병 환자군과 여성 대조군 사이의 유전자형 빈도에서는 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 나타내었다. 연구결과 CAT유전자가 여성 정신분열병과 관련이 있을 수 있다는 가능성이 제시된다.
Objective:There is increasing evidence that free radical-mediated CNS neuronal dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was performed to examine the relationship between antioxidant defense system and schizophrenia by analyzing polymorphism of catalase gene, an antioxidant enzyme. Method:Genotype and allele frequencies in the promoter region in the catalase gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism were studied, comparing 155 Korean controls with 167 Korean schizophrenics. Results:No difference was found between the schizophrenics and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of HinfI polymorphism in the catalase gene. Significant difference was found between the female schizophrenics and the female controls in the genotype distribution(${chi}^2$=11.096, df=2, p=0.004). Conclusions:The results do not support an association between polymorphism of catalase gene and schizophrenia. However, this study suggests that HinfI polymorphism in the catalase gene could be associated with female schizophrenics.
