Association of an interleukin-1beta genetic polymorphism with altered brain structure in patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect on brain morphology of an interleukin-1beta genetic polymorphism (C-->T transition at position -511) in patients with schizophrenia. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging and genotype analysis were used in the examination of 44 male schizophrenic patients and 48 healthy male comparison subjects. No association between the interleukin-1beta polymorphism and schizophrenia was detected. Within the patient group, bifrontal-temporal gray matter volume deficits and generalized white matter tissue deficits in allele 2 carriers (genotype T/T or C/T) were found. In contrast, the interleukin-1beta polymorphism had no influence on brain morphology within the healthy subjects. The data suggest that allele 2 within the promoter region of the interleukin-1beta gene at position -511 contributes to structural brain alterations in patients with schizophrenia.