Genes related to schizophrenia have been identified

The risk of a person's schizophrenia will increase if they inherit a gene in the immune system that causes a healthy neurotransmitter loss in adolescence. That is the conclusion of researchers at Harvard University and MIT, providing a completely new perspective, promising to be exploited to develop treatments and even prevent diseases that are full of squash. hide in this medicine.

Previously, schizophrenia treatments are still limited in reducing the typical symptoms of the disease and more importantly, it is observed from a mental disorder. Although some studies have previously shown that the disease is related to genetic factors, it is not yet possible to determine specifically what it is. However, researchers at Harvard and MIT have made a breakthrough in developing a genetic factor thought to be the essence of the disease.

Unlike other genes, C4 has a very different structure between individuals.

In the study, they analyzed 100,000 DNA samples from 30 different countries to identify gene mutations in human genetic apparatus that could increase the risk of schizophrenia. In the end, they discovered that a gene is raised as the complement 4 (C4) of the immune system. Unlike other genes, C4 has a very different structure between individuals. Based on the genetic analysis of 65,000 people, scientists found that those who possessed this gene and its level of activity were too high, the risk of schizophrenia increased.

Further understanding, the team discovered that C4 is not only responsible for the immune system, it also plays an important role in the exchange of nerve connections during brain maturation. The more active C4 is, the more neurons are removed at the critical moment in adulthood. The human brain often undergoes a pruning process, perfecting the development of too many nerve connections during adolescence, but if excessive pruning in this stage by the impact of C4 leads to millions of typical evidence of schizophrenia.

Eric Lander, director of the Broad Research Institute, said: "This is the first time that the origin of discrimination is no longer a mystery. Although it is still very primitive, we have a strong understanding. The biological discovery of this disease The first discoveries on the biological mechanism of cancer have set the stage for many therapies to be developed and hundreds of drugs have been developed. getting schizophrenia will create a similar incentive to speed up the fight against the disease in young people.

Professor Mike Owen, director of the Center for Mental Genetics at Cardiff University, added: " Other studies need to be carried out to accurately determine the operation of C4 for the linkage pruning process. nerve and lead to schizophrenia, at the same time learn how this process interacts with other genes and disease-related proteins.Treatment is still too early to see but study times This is considered a turning point, contributing to the orientation of other future studies ".