Whole-genome sequencing of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia indicates multiple genetic risk factors for schizophrenia

J Genet Genomics. 2017 Jun 20;44(6):295-306. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2017.05.005. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a common disorder with a high heritability, but its genetic architecture is still elusive. We implemented whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of 8 families with monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia to assess potential association of de novo mutations (DNMs) or inherited variants with susceptibility to schizophrenia. Eight non-synonymous DNMs (including one splicing site) were identified and shared by twins, which were either located in previously reported schizophrenia risk genes (p.V24689I mutation in TTN, p.S2506T mutation in GCN1L1, IVS3+1G > T in DOCK1) or had a benign to damaging effect according to in silico prediction analysis. By searching the inherited rare damaging or loss-of-function (LOF) variants and common susceptible alleles from three classes of schizophrenia candidate genes, we were able to distill genetic alterations in several schizophrenia risk genes, including GAD1, PLXNA2, RELN and FEZ1. Four inherited copy number variations (CNVs; including a large deletion at 16p13.11) implicated for schizophrenia were identified in four families, respectively. Most of families carried both missense DNMs and inherited risk variants, which might suggest that DNMs, inherited rare damaging variants and common risk alleles together conferred to schizophrenia susceptibility. Our results support that schizophrenia is caused by a combination of multiple genetic factors, with each DNM/variant showing a relatively small effect size.

Keywords: Combined effect; De novo mutation; Monozygotic twin; Schizophrenia; Susceptibility; Whole-genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Reelin Protein
  • Schizophrenia / genetics*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics*
  • Whole Genome Sequencing*