No association between the glutamate decarboxylase 67 gene (GAD1) and schizophrenia in the Japanese population

Postmortem studies regarding schizophrenia revealed altered expression of genes related to γ-amino butyric acid neurotransmission system. One of the most consistent findings is the reduced level of 67 kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform (GAD₆₇). Moreover, several studies reported positive associations between the GAD₆₇ gene (GAD1) and schizophrenia. These reasons, motivated us to carry out replication study regarding association between GAD1 (fourteen tagging SNPs) and schizophrenia in Japanese population (562 schizophrenic patients and 470 controls). However we couldn't confirm significant association that had been previously reported. Considering size of our sample and strategy that corresponds well with the approaches used in gene-based association analysis, our conclusion is that GAD1 does not play a major role in schizophrenia in Japanese population.