Epigenetics, the study of non-genotype related phenotype variability and inheritance, has lead to increased information about the inheritance and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The complex psychotic disorder is an irregular genetic disease, characterizing non-mendelian anomalies in heritability.
Research since 1975 has shown high correlation between histone remodelling and methylation, and inheritance patterns and disease function. Renewed research into the field of epigenetics and chromatin structure modification has presented the potential for pharmacological correcting of these epigenetic factors, providing evidence that schizophrenia is partly the result of unregulated epigenetic factors and gene expression.
Comparative twin studies have also shown strong environmental influence on the formation of epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodelling, shown to be influential in emergence of the disease. Decreased condensation of chromatin and irregular DNA methylation of important gene promoter sites have also been discovered in schizophrenic patients.
The presence of these expression modifying factors involved in schizophrenia may provide insight to the function and inheritance of the psychotic disorder, and the targets required for future drug development.
For more information:
Sharma, R.P. (2005) “Schizophrenia, epigenetics and ligand-activated nuclear receptors: a framework for chromatin therapeutics” Schizophrenia Research 72:79-90
