Rare genome-wide copy number variation and expression of schizophrenia in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Anne S. Bassett, Chelsea Lowther, Daniele Merico, Gregory Costain, Eva W.C. Chow, Therese Van Amelsvoort, Donna McDonald-McGinn, Raquel E. Gur, Ann Swillen, Marianne Van Den Bree, Kieran Murphy, Doron Gothelf, Carrie E. Bearden, Stephan Eliez, Wendy Kates, Nicole Philip, Vandana Sashi, Linda Campbell, Jacob Vorstman, Joseph CubellsGabriela M. Repetto, Tony Simon, Erik Boot, Tracy Heung, Rens Evers, Claudia Vingerhoets, Esther Van Duin, Elaine Zackai, Elfi Vergaelen, Koen Devriendt, Joris R. Vermeesch, Michael Owen, Clodagh Murphy, Elena Michaelovosky, Leila Kushan, Maude Schneider, Wanda Fremont, Tiffany Busa, Stephen Hooper, Kathryn McCabe, Sasja Duijff, Karin Isaev, Giovanna Pellecchia, John Wei, Matthew J. Gazzellone, Stephen W. Scherer, Beverly S. Emanuel, Tingwei Guo, Bernice E. Morrow, Christian R. Marshall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with a more than 20-fold increased risk for developing schizophrenia. The aim of this studywas to identify additional genetic factors (i.e., "second hits") that may contribute to schizophrenia expression. Method: Through an international consortium, the authors obtained DNA samples from 329 psychiatrically phenotyped subjects with 22q11.2DS. Using a high-resolution microarray platform and established methods to assess copy number variation (CNV), the authors compared the genome-wide burden of rare autosomal CNV, outside of the 22q11.2 deletion region, between two groups: A schizophrenia group and those with no psychotic disorder at age≥25 years. The authors assessedwhether genes overlapped by rare CNVs were overrepresented in functional pathways relevant to schizophrenia. Results: Rare CNVs overlapping one or more protein-coding genes revealed significant between-group differences. For rare exonic duplications, six of 19 gene sets tested were enriched in the schizophrenia group; genes associated with abnormal nervous system phenotypes remained significant in a stepwise logistic regression model and showed significant interactions with 22q11.2 deletion region genes in a connectivity analysis. For rare exonic deletions, the schizophrenia group had, on average, more genes overlapped. The additional rare CNVs implicated known (e.g., GRM7, 15q13.3, 16p12.2) and novel schizophrenia risk genes and loci. Conclusions: The results suggest that additional rare CNVs overlapping genes outside of the 22q11.2 deletion region contribute to schizophrenia risk in 22q11.2DS, supporting a multigenic hypothesis for schizophrenia. The findings have implications for understanding expression of psychotic illness and herald the importance of whole-genome sequencing to appreciate the overall genomic architecture of schizophrenia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1054-1063
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry
Volume174
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2017
Externally publishedYes

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