1Hum. Mutat. 2004 Dec 24: 534-5
PMID15532024
TitleMutations of the Nogo-66 receptor (RTN4R) gene in schizophrenia.
Abstractschizophrenia (SCZD) or schizoaffective disorders are quite common features in patients with DiGeorge/velo-cardio-facial syndrome (DGS/VCFS) as a result of chromosome 22q11.2 aploinsufficiency. We evaluated the Nogo-66 receptor gene (RTN4R), which maps within the DGS/VCFS critical region, as a potential candidate for schizophrenia susceptibility. RTN4R encodes for a functional cell surface receptor, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein, with multiple leucine-rich repeats (LRR), which is implicated in axonal growth inhibition. One hundred and twenty unrelated Italian schizophrenic patients were screened for mutations in the RTN4R gene using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Three mutant alleles were detected, including two missense changes (c.355C>T; R119W and c.587G>A; R196H), and one synonymous codon variant (c.54G>A; L18L). The two schizophrenic patients with the missense changes were strongly resistant to the neuroleptic treatment at any dosage. Both missense changes were absent in 300 control subjects. Molecular modeling revealed that both changes lead to putative structural alterations of the native protein.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
2Hum. Mutat. 2004 Dec 24: 534-5
PMID15532024
TitleMutations of the Nogo-66 receptor (RTN4R) gene in schizophrenia.
Abstractschizophrenia (SCZD) or schizoaffective disorders are quite common features in patients with DiGeorge/velo-cardio-facial syndrome (DGS/VCFS) as a result of chromosome 22q11.2 aploinsufficiency. We evaluated the Nogo-66 receptor gene (RTN4R), which maps within the DGS/VCFS critical region, as a potential candidate for schizophrenia susceptibility. RTN4R encodes for a functional cell surface receptor, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked protein, with multiple leucine-rich repeats (LRR), which is implicated in axonal growth inhibition. One hundred and twenty unrelated Italian schizophrenic patients were screened for mutations in the RTN4R gene using denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Three mutant alleles were detected, including two missense changes (c.355C>T; R119W and c.587G>A; R196H), and one synonymous codon variant (c.54G>A; L18L). The two schizophrenic patients with the missense changes were strongly resistant to the neuroleptic treatment at any dosage. Both missense changes were absent in 300 control subjects. Molecular modeling revealed that both changes lead to putative structural alterations of the native protein.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
3J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2007 Feb 114: 249-54
PMID16897606
TitleNo association between the genetic polymorphisms in the RTN4R gene and schizophrenia in the Chinese population.
AbstractThe RTN4R gene is located in the 22q11 region and it encodes a subunit of the receptor complex (RTN4R-p75NTR) which results in neuronal growth inhibitory signals in response to Nogo-66, MAG or OMG signaling. Previous studies have suggested that RTN4R might act as a potential candidate for schizophrenia susceptibility loci. We genotyped four SNPs within the gene and conducted a case-control study and TDT analysis, involving 707 schizophrenic patients, 689 controls and 372 unrelated small nuclear families with schizophrenic offspring in the Chinese population. We examined allele and genotype frequencies and haplotype distributions in both family- and nonfamily-based samples. Our results suggest that there is no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
4J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2007 Feb 114: 249-54
PMID16897606
TitleNo association between the genetic polymorphisms in the RTN4R gene and schizophrenia in the Chinese population.
AbstractThe RTN4R gene is located in the 22q11 region and it encodes a subunit of the receptor complex (RTN4R-p75NTR) which results in neuronal growth inhibitory signals in response to Nogo-66, MAG or OMG signaling. Previous studies have suggested that RTN4R might act as a potential candidate for schizophrenia susceptibility loci. We genotyped four SNPs within the gene and conducted a case-control study and TDT analysis, involving 707 schizophrenic patients, 689 controls and 372 unrelated small nuclear families with schizophrenic offspring in the Chinese population. We examined allele and genotype frequencies and haplotype distributions in both family- and nonfamily-based samples. Our results suggest that there is no significant association between the genetic polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
5PLoS ONE 2007 -1 2: e1234
PMID18043741
TitleNogo Receptor 1 (RTN4R) as a candidate gene for schizophrenia: analysis using human and mouse genetic approaches.
AbstractNOGO Receptor 1 (RTN4R) regulates axonal growth, as well as axon regeneration after injury. The gene maps to the 22q11.2 schizophrenia susceptibility locus and is thus a strong functional and positional candidate gene.
We evaluate evidence for genetic association between common RTN4R polymorphisms and schizophrenia in a large family sample of Afrikaner origin and screen the exonic sequence of RTN4R for rare variants in an independent sample from the U.S. We also employ animal model studies to assay a panel of schizophrenia-related behavioral tasks in an RTN4R-deficient mouse model. We found weak sex-specific evidence for association between common RTN4R polymorphisms and schizophrenia in the Afrikaner patients. In the U.S. sample, we identified two novel non-conservative RTN4R coding variants in two patients with schizophrenia that were absent in 600 control chromosomes. In our complementary mouse model studies, we identified a haploinsufficient effect of RTN4R on locomotor activity, but normal performance in schizophrenia-related behavioral tasks. We also provide evidence that RTN4R deficiency can modulate the long-term behavioral effects of transient postnatal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction.
Our results do not support a major role of RTN4R in susceptibility to schizophrenia or the cognitive and behavioral deficits observed in individuals with 22q11 microdeletions. However, they suggest that RTN4R may modulate the genetic risk or clinical expression of schizophrenia in a subset of patients and identify additional studies that will be necessary to clarify the role of RTN4R in psychiatric phenotypes. In addition, our results raise interesting issues about evaluating the significance of rare genetic variants in disease and their role in causation.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
6J. Neurosci. 2008 Dec 28: 13161-72
PMID19052207
TitleGenetic variants of Nogo-66 receptor with possible association to schizophrenia block myelin inhibition of axon growth.
AbstractIn schizophrenia, genetic predisposition has been linked to chromosome 22q11 and myelin-specific genes are misexpressed in schizophrenia. Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NGR or RTN4R) has been considered to be a 22q11 candidate gene for schizophrenia susceptibility because it encodes an axonal protein that mediates myelin inhibition of axonal sprouting. Confirming previous studies, we found that variation at the NGR locus is associated with schizophrenia in a Caucasian case-control analysis, and this association is not attributed to population stratification. Within a limited set of schizophrenia-derived DNA samples, we identified several rare NGR nonconservative coding sequence variants. Neuronal cultures demonstrate that four different schizophrenia-derived NgR1 variants fail to transduce myelin signals into axon inhibition, and function as dominant negatives to disrupt endogenous NgR1. This provides the first evidence that certain disease-derived human NgR1 variants are dysfunctional proteins in vitro. Mice lacking NgR1 protein exhibit reduced working memory function, consistent with a potential endophenotype of schizophrenia. For a restricted subset of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, the expression of dysfunctional NGR variants may contribute to increased disease risk.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
7Am. J. Med. Genet. B Neuropsychiatr. Genet. 2011 Jul 156B: 581-92
PMID21563301
TitleAssociation study of Nogo-related genes with schizophrenia in a Japanese case-control sample.
AbstractMany studies have suggested that myelin dysfunction may be causally involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Nogo (RTN4), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein (OMG) all bind to the common receptor, Nogo-66 receptor 1 (RTN4R). We examined 68 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (51 with genotyping and 17 with imputation analysis) from these four genes for genetic association with schizophrenia, using a 2,120 case-control sample from the Japanese population. Allelic tests showed nominally significant association of two RTN4 SNPs (P = 0.047 and 0.037 for rs11894868 and rs2968804, respectively) and two MAG SNPs (P = 0.034 and 0.029 for rs7249617 and rs16970218, respectively) with schizophrenia. The MAG SNP rs7249617 also showed nominal significance in a genotypic test (P = 0.017). In haplotype analysis, the MAG haplotype block including rs7249617 and rs16970218 showed nominal significance (P = 0.008). These associations did not remain significant after correction for multiple testing, possibly due to their small genetic effect. In the imputation analysis of RTN4, the untyped SNP rs2972090 showed nominally significant association (P = 0.032) and several imputed SNPs showed marginal associations. Moreover, in silico analysis (PolyPhen) of a missense variant (rs11677099: Asp357Val), which is in strong linkage disequilibrium with rs11894868, predicted a deleterious effect on Nogo protein function. Despite a failure to detect robust associations in this Japanese cohort, our nominally positive signals, taken together with previously reported biological and genetic findings, add further support to the "disturbed myelin system theory of schizophrenia" across different populations.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
8Behav. Brain Res. 2011 Oct 224: 73-9
PMID21645550
TitleMissense mutation of the reticulon-4 receptor alters spatial memory and social interaction in mice.
AbstractThe reticulon-4 receptor, encoded by RTN4R, limits axonal sprouting and neural plasticity by inhibiting the outgrowth of neurites. Human association studies have implicated mutations in RTN4R in the development of schizophrenia, including the identification of several rare nonconservative missense mutations of RTN4R in schizophrenia patients. To investigate the effects of missense mutation of the reticulon-4 receptor on phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, we behaviourally characterized a novel RTN4R mutant mouse line with an amino acid substitution (R189H) in the Nogo-66 binding site. Behavioural assays included prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle, locomotor activity, social interaction and spatial cognition. When compared with wildtype littermates, RTN4R mutant mice exhibited greater social preference, which may reflect a social-anxyolitic effect, and a mild impairment in spatial cognition. Given the mild effect of the R189H mutation of RTN4R on behavioural phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia, our results do not support missense mutation of RTN4R as a strong risk factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
9Psychiatry Res 2011 Sep 189: 312-4
PMID21377214
TitleLack of association of the RTN4R genetic variations with risk of schizophrenia and SPEM abnormality in a Korean population.
AbstractThis study examined the association of the reticulon 4 receptor (RTN4R) gene with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality in a Korean population. Although we failed to provide convincing evidence that RTN4R is associated with schizophrenia development and SPEM impairment, our findings may be useful for further genetic studies.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic
10Schizophr. Res. 2014 Jan 152: 117-23
PMID24321711
TitleWhite matter abnormalities in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: preliminary associations with the Nogo-66 receptor gene and symptoms of psychosis.
AbstractThis study utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to analyze white matter tractography in the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), fornix, and uncinate fasciculus (UF) of individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and controls. Aberrations in these tracts have been previously associated with schizophrenia. With up to 25% of individuals with 22q11.2DS developing schizophrenia in adulthood, we hypothesized reduction in structural integrity of these tracts, including an association with prodromal symptoms of psychosis. We further predicted an association between allelic variation in a functional polymorphism of the Nogo-66 receptor gene and 22q11.2DS white matter integrity.
Tractography was conducted using fiber assignment by streamline tracking algorithm in DTI Studio. Subjects were genotyped for the rs701428 SNP of the Nogo-66 receptor gene, and assessed for presence of prodromal symptoms.
We found significant group differences between 22q11.2DS and controls in DTI metrics for all three tracts. DTI metrics of ALIC and UF were associated with prodromal symptoms in 22q11.2DS. Further, ALIC DTI metrics were associated with allelic variation of the rs701428 SNP of the Nogo-66 receptor gene in 22q11.2DS.
Alterations in DTI metrics suggest white matter microstructural anomalies of the ALIC, fornix, and UF in 22q11.2DS. Structural differences in ALIC appear to be associated with the Nogo-66 receptor gene, which has been linked to myelin-mediated axonal growth inhibition. Moreover, the association between psychosis symptoms and ALIC and UF metrics suggests that the Nogo-66 receptor gene may represent a susceptibility gene for psychosis through its disruption of white matter microstructure and myelin-associated axonal growth.
SCZ Keywordsschizophrenia, schizophrenic