Association Analysis of Inter-Alpha-Trypsin Inhibitor Genes in Schizophrenia

Objectives Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a common psychiatric disorder with relatively high morbidity and heritability. Affecting approximately 1% of the global population, SCZ is estimated to have an individual heritability of 60-85%. In recent years, several promising genetic loci have been identified using novel approaches such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Multiple GWAS have consistently reported that inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain (ITIH) family genes located on chromosome 3p21 are associated with SCZ in European populations, as demonstrated by the Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and subsequent studies, as well as with bipolar disorder, another major psychotic disorder.