Identification of Schizophrenia Susceptibility Loci in the Urban Taiwanese Population.

Background and Objectives : Genomic studies have identified several SNP loci associated with schizophrenia in East Asian populations. Environmental factors, particularly urbanization, play a significant role in schizophrenia development. This study aimed to identify schizophrenia susceptibility loci and characterize their biological functions and molecular pathways in Taiwanese urban Han individuals. Materials and Methods : Participants with schizophrenia were recruited from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative at Tri-Service General Hospital. Genotype-phenotype association analysis was performed, with significant variants annotated and analyzed for functional relevance. Results : A total of 137 schizophrenia patients and 26,129 controls were enrolled. Ten significant variants ( p < 1 × 10 -5 ) and 15 expressed genes were identified, including rs1010840 ( SOWAHC and RGPD6 ), rs11083963 ( TRPM4 ), rs11619878 (LINC00355 and LINC01052), rs117010638 ( AGBL1 and MIR548AP), rs1170702 (LINC01680 and LINC01720), rs12028521 ( KAZN and PRDM2 ), rs12859097 ( DMD ), rs1556812 ( ATP11A ), rs78144262 (LINC00977), and rs9997349 ( ENPEP ). These variants and associated genes are involved in immune response, blood pressure regulation, muscle function, and the cytoskeleton. Conclusions : Identified variants and associated genes suggest a potential genetic predisposition to schizophrenia in the Taiwanese urban Han population, highlighting the importance of potential comorbidities, considering population-specific genetic and environmental interactions.