What are the genes that confer susceptibility to schizophrenia and depressive illness?

The genetics of schizophrenia and depression are complex, and there is no single gene responsible for these illnesses. Instead, multiple genes are believed to interact with environmental factors to contribute to the development of these disorders. For schizophrenia, some of the genes that have been implicated include those involved in neurotransmitter signaling, such as dopamine and glutamate receptors, as well as genes involved in immune system function.

Additionally, some studies have identified rare genetic mutations in specific genes, such as DISC1 and NRXN1, that may increase the risk of schizophrenia. Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DISC1 gene. In coordination with a wide array of interacting partners, DISC1 has been shown to participate in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, neuronal axon and dendrite outgrowth, mitochondrial transport, fission and/or fusion, and cell-to-cell adhesion.

Several studies have shown that unregulated expression or altered protein structure of DISC1 may predispose individuals to the development of schizophrenia, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions. The cellular functions that are disrupted by permutations in DISC1, which lead to the development of these disorders, have yet to be clearly defined and are the subject of current ongoing research.

Although, recent genetic studies of large schizophrenia cohorts have failed to implicate DISC1 as a risk gene at the gene level, the DISC1 interactome gene set was associated with schizophrenia, showing evidence from genome-wide association studies of the role of DISC1 and interacting partners in schizophrenia susceptibility.An interactome is a complex representation of functional interactions between molecules either within a cell or within the organism as a whole.

Often such interactomes reveal important interactions between molecules that at first would not appear to be functionally related. For depression, genes involved in the regulation of mood and emotional processing, such as those involved in the serotonin and dopamine pathways, have been implicated. Additionally, there is evidence that genes involved in inflammation and stress response may also play a role in the development of depression. It is important to note that while genetics play a role in the development of these disorders, environmental and lifestyle factors also contribute significantly to their onset and progression.

Best,

Laura Zukerman

Owner and Founder At The Goddess Bibles

A Memoir By Laura Zukerman

Becoming Your Inner Goddess/God

Goddess/God On Fire ❤

Info on DISC1 found at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC1

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