Altered Expression of a Unique Set of Genes Reveals Complex Etiology of Schizophrenia

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The etiology of schizophrenia is extensively debated, and multiple factors have been contended to be involved. A panoramic view of the contributing factors in a genome-wide study can be an effective strategy to provide a comprehensive understanding of its causality. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> GSE53987 dataset downloaded from GEO-database, which comprised mRNA expression data of post-mortem brain tissue across three regions from control (C) and age-matched subjects (T) of schizophrenia (N = Hippocampus [HIP]: C-15, T-18, Prefrontal cortex [PFC]: C-15, T-19, Associative striatum [STR]: C-18, T-18). Bio-conductor-affy-package used to compute mRNA expression, and further t-test applied to investigate differential gene expression. The analysis of the derived genes performed using the PANTHER Classification System and NCBI database. Further, a protein interactome analysis of the derived gene set was performed using STRING v10 database (https://string-db.org/) <b>Results:</b> A set of 40 genes showed significantly altered (p < 0.01) expression across all three brain regions. The analyses unraveled genes implicated in biological processes and events, and molecular pathways relating basic neuronal functions. <b>Conclusions:</b> The aberrant expression of genes maintaining basic cell machinery explains compromised neuronal processing in SCZ.