Given the intronic location of SNP rs1233706 within the ZNF804a gene, altered expression or splice variation may confer SZ susceptibility. The alleles of SNP rs1344706 are shown to differentially bind nuclear proteins and suggest a molecular mechanism for altering ZNF804a expression [10]. In addition, the rs1344706 risk allele is associated with increased expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [4]. However, in lymphoblastoid cells, increased expression generally associates with SNP rs1344706, however rs1344706 does not appear to be the only cis-acting eQTL responsible for expression [9]. It will be important in future studies to better characterize how this SNP alters expression in fetal and adult brain to more precisely match appropriate expression levels in cell and animal models.
