Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 2 , Pages 253-260, 15 September 2005

Association between the polymorphic GRM3 gene and negative symptom improvement during olanzapine treatment

Preliminary data for three of the polymorphisms was presented as an abstract at the 2004 College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) meeting in Chicago, IL April 9–11, 2004.

  • Jeffrey R. Bishop

      Affiliations

    • University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Division, S413 Pharmacy Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    • ,
  • Vicki L. Ellingrod

      Affiliations

    • University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Division, S413 Pharmacy Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 319 335 8837; fax: +1 319 353 5646.
    • ,
  • Jessica Moline

      Affiliations

    • University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Clinical and Administrative Division, S413 Pharmacy Building, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
    • ,
  • Del Miller

      Affiliations

    • University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, USA

Received 28 January 2005; received in revised form 24 March 2005; accepted 4 April 2005.

Abstract 

Purpose

The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has become an important area of focus for schizophrenia researchers. Polymorphisms in the type-three metabotropic glutamate receptor gene (GRM3) have been associated with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a pharmacogenetic relationship exists between six polymorphisms of GRM3 and clinical improvement during olanzapine treatment in persons with schizophrenia.

Method

Forty-two subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia started olanzapine and were titrated to a fixed dose of 7.5–20 mg/day for 6 weeks. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total score and the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were completed at baseline and then weekly to assess psychopathology.

Results

The principle finding of this study is that GRM3 polymorphisms were collectively significant predictors of negative symptom improvement in persons with schizophrenia treated with the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine. After controlling for baseline SANS scores, the genotypes as a whole were significant predictors of negative symptom improvement, accounting for approximately 28% of the variance in scores (F=16.30, df=29, p<0.001). The single nucleotide polymorphism SNP1 (rs274622), located in a potential promoter region, had the most significant influence on SANS scores, but the effects of this locus could not be fully separated from the other polymorphisms. The mean decrease in SANS scores was 21% vs. 51% for SNP1 T/T+T/C and SNP1C/C subjects, respectively.

Conclusion

These data suggest that polymorphisms in the GRM3 gene may be useful as predictors of negative symptom improvement in persons with schizophrenia treated with olanzapine.

Keywords: Metabotropic, Glutamate, Antipsychotic, Olanzapine, Pharmacogenetics, Schizophrenia

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PII: S0920-9964(05)00135-0

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2005.04.001

Schizophrenia Research
Volume 77, Issue 2 , Pages 253-260, 15 September 2005

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