BanI polymorphism of the cytosolic phospholipase A2 gene may confer susceptibility to the development of schizophrenia

Membrane phospholipid abnormalities have been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a major role in the metabolism of fatty acids but is also found in abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. This study examined the association between the cPLA2 gene BanI polymorphism and schizophrenia. Ninety-seven Korean schizophrenia patients and 117 healthy controls participated in this study. Genotyping was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Genotype and allele distributions were significantly different between the schizophrenia patients and controls. In particular, the A2 allele was associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia (p=0.003; odds ratio (OR)=1.799; confidence interval (CI)=1.192-2.716). However, the polymorphism was not different when the patient group was subdivided by the presence or absence of family history and by positive and negative subgroups according to the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) score on schizophrenia. The results of this study replicated those of previous findings from Western countries and indicates the need for further studies on the potential role of the cPLA2 gene polymorphism in the susceptibility to schizophrenia.