The international schizophrenia working group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) assembled all available genetic data from both unpublished and previously published studies and evaluated them in a single database. When they compared the genetic information to a control group, the scientists discovered a total of 108 gene regions associated with the development of schizophrenia, 83 of which were previously unknown.

This means that signal transduction pathways which secure the transmission of information between brain cells and the neurotransmitters glutamate and dopamine have an important influence on the disease.

In particular the acquired immunity mediated by B-lymphocytes is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Gene comparisons showed that the influence on calcium channels in the nerve cells and proteins of patients suffering from schizophrenia was different from those of control subjects. This lead to an altered synaptic function.

Source (in German):
http://www3.uni-bonn.de/Pressemitteilungen/pressrelease.2014-07-21.0999295378

Original publication:
Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (2014): Biological insights from 108 schizophrenia-associated genetic loci.
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13595.html