探尋精神分裂症的易感基因：以RGS4為例

Searching for the Susceptibility Genes of Schizophrenia: Taking RGS4 as an Example

精神分裂症是具高遺傳傾向的精神疾患。研究顯示，精神分裂症的遺傳模式為多重基因座類型，發病可能是數個基因交互作用之結果。Regulator of G protein signaling 4 （RGS4）是精神分裂症的一個易感基因，最初經由連鎖分析與關聯性分析被發現，之後基因表現與功能的研究進一步證實了其重要性。RGS4的功能與精神分裂症的病理機轉高度相關。本文將回顧文獻，討論以下主題：（1）什麼是RGS？（2）RGS4的結構為何？（3）RGS4 的功能為何？（4）RGS4 與精神分裂症有何關聯？期望RGS4 做為精神分裂症易感基因的例子，有助研究者理解基因與複雜疾病間的相關性。

Schizophrenia is a serious neuropsychiatric illness that has a strong genetic component and high heritability. Many researchers favor a multilocus model for schizophrenia, in which epistasis of several genes leads to the disorder. Regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) is one of the susceptibility genes of schizophrenia identified by linkage and association studies initially, and is further validated by expression and functional studies. The function of RGS4 is closely linked to the pathological mechanism of schizophrenia. We have reviewed literature up to date and try to clarify the following issues: (1) the mechanism of RGS; (2) the structure of RGS4; (3) the function of RGS4; (4) the association between RGS4 and schizophrenia. We hope the model of identifying RGS4 as a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia can provide researchers a better understanding to link a gene to a complex disorder like schizophrenia.