Serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) and schizophrenia:: Examination of possible medication and genetic influences on expression levels

The serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) gene is of interest in schizophrenia due to its involvement in regulation of dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex. We have previously reported a decreased expression of HTR2C mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients. The variability in mRNA expression levels is evaluated here more closely in relation to promoter haplotypes and neuroleptic treatment received by the patients. The decrease in HTR2C mRNA was present in neuroleptic treated individuals and in patients untreated at death, indicating that the lower expression is not a short-term medication effect. Three promoter polymorphisms were used to construct haplotypes. No SNP displayed genotypic or haplotypic association with the disease. Gene expression of HTR2C was not affected by haplotype and the expression decrease in schizophrenia patients was similar in all haplotype combinations (diplotypes). We conclude that the decrease in HTR2C expression in schizophrenia may be related to the disease mechanism rather than to drug treatment. The disease related changes in HTR2C expression are not related to the promoter variants typed in our sample, but could be due to other regulatory variants or transacting factors. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.