Research progress of the synapsin 2 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

Abstract

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is the most common serious mental illness with a high disability rate and heavy social and family burdens. At present, there is no clear etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Studies have shown that the occurrence of schizophrenia may be related to the abnormality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The LIM-homeobox gene 3 (LHX3) and early growth response 1 (EGR1) can affect pituitary function. Because the synapsin 2 (SYN2) gene polymorphism regulates the activity of LHX3 and EGR1, it may cause the occurrence of schizophrenia. This article will review the possible involvement of SYN2 gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia via regulating the activity of LHX3 and EGR1, then to affect the HPA axis.

Keywords

schizophrenia (SCZ) / hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis / synapsin 2 (SYN2) / LIM-homeobox gene 3 (LHX3) / early growth response 1 (EGR1)