Dopamine Receptor D2 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated in Taiwanese Children With Tourette Syndrome

Lee, Cheng-Chun; Chou, I.-Ching; Tsai, Chang-Hai; Wang, Tso-Ren; Li, Tsai-Chung; Tsai, Fuu-Jen

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2005.05.005

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 33, Issue 4 , Pages 272-276, October 2005

Dopamine Receptor D2 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated in Taiwanese Children With Tourette Syndrome

Cheng-Chun Lee, MD, PhD
- Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
I.-Ching Chou, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Chang-Hai Tsai, MD, PhD
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Taichung Healthcare and Management University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Tsai; Departments of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics; China Medical University Hospital; No. 2, Yuh-Der Road; Taichung, Taiwan.
Tso-Ren Wang, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
Tsai-Chung Li, PhD
- Institute of Chinese Medical Science, Chinese Medicine College, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
Fuu-Jen Tsai, MD, PhD
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Received 18 January 2005; accepted 2 May 2005.

The pathophysiology of Tourette syndrome may involve the dopamine system. Dysfunction of the dopamine receptor D2 gene leads to many neuropsychiatric disorders. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that the dopamine receptor D2 gene may play a role in Tourette syndrome. A total of 151 children with Tourette syndrome and 183 normal control subjects were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the Taq I DRD2 and DRD2 (H313H) polymorphisms of the dopamine receptor D2 gene. The genotype proportions of Taq I DRD2 and DRD2 (H313H) polymorphisms in the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.01 for both). The odds ratio for developing Tourette syndrome in individuals with the Taq I DRD2 A1 homozygote was 2.253 (95% confidence interval, 1.124-4.517) compared with individuals with the Taq I DRD2 A2 homozygote. The odds ratio for developing Tourette syndrome in individuals with the DRD2 (H313H) C homozygote was 2.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.398-6.269) compared with individuals with DRD2 (H313H) T homozygote. This study has demonstrated an association between the dopamine receptor D2 gene and Tourette syndrome. These data suggest that the dopamine receptor D2 gene or a closely linked gene might be one of the susceptibility factors for Tourette syndrome.