Schizophrenia and Oxidative Stress: Glutamate Cysteine Ligase Modifier as a Susceptibility Gene

• DOI: 10.1086/507566
• Publication Date: 2006-08-08T23:39:07Z
• Authors: Mirjana Tosic; Jurg Ott; Sandra Barral; Pierre Bovet; Patricia Deppen; Fulvia Gheorghita; Marie-Louise Matthey; Josef Parnas; Martin Preisig; Michael Saraga; Alessandra Solida; Sally Timm; August G. Wang; Thomas Werge; Michel Cuénod; Kim Quang Do
• Keywords: GCLM

Oxidative stress could be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, a major psychiatric disorder. Glutathione (GSH), a redox regulator, is decreased in patients' cerebrospinal fluid and prefrontal cortex. The gene of the key GSH-synthesizing enzyme, glutamate cysteine ligase modifier (GCLM) subunit, is strongly associated with schizophrenia in two case-control studies and in one family study. GCLM gene expression is decreased in patients' fibroblasts. Thus, GSH metabolism dysfunction is proposed as one of the vulnerability factors for schizophrenia.