Objective: To explore the relationship between the microsatellite markers on chromosome 6 and schizophrenia by linkage disequilibrium analysis.
Methods: Twenty-eight microsatellite markers on chromosome 6 were evaluated in 115 affected-sib-pair and trios families. Linkage disequilibrium analysis was conducted according to diagnostic categories, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and other clinical data by XDT and MAPMAKER/SIBS software system.
Results: Significant P value (P<0.005) was found in all the four diagnostic categories. Only the locus of D6S1960 showed positive P value (P<0.05) in all the subgroups divided by PANSS scale and the age of onset.
Conclusion: The area around D6S1960 in short arm of chromosome 6 may contain susceptibility gene of schizophrenia.