Analysis of association between common variants in the SLCO6A1 gene with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder in the Han Chinese population

Objectives The SLCO6A1 gene belongs to a superfamily of genes which is known to be a solute carrier family of OATPs (SLCO). The SLCO6A1 gene encodes OATP6A1 protein in humans. A previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) of schizophrenia conducted in the Swedish population demonstrated a significant association of rs6878284, which is located in the SLCO6A1 gene, with schizophrenia. To further investigate whether this gene is also a risk locus for schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in the Han Chinese population, a case-control study was designed. Methods In total 1,248 unrelated SCZ cases, 1,344 BPD cases, 1,056 unrelated MDD cases and 1,248 normal controls were analysed in this study. We genotyped five SNPs using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Results We found no association of rs6878284 with SCZ [Corrected P-allele=0.969, Corrected P-genotype=0.997]. Furthermore, we found a statistically significant association of the rs7734060 genotype with MDD after correction [rs7734060: Corrected P-allele=0.114, Corrected P-genotype=0.036] in the Han Chinese population. Conclusions This is the first study which reveals no association of rs6878284 with SCZ and also predicts that rs7734060 could be a risk locus for MDD in the Han Chinese population.