ANK3 gene variants have consistently been associated with
bipolar spectrum disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. However, the
relevance of its encoded protein, ankyrin-3, in these disorders remains
elusive. Here, we show that ANK3 gene expression in blood
is significantly increased in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia compared
with healthy controls. Additionally, we identified potential cis-acting
expression quantitative trait loci located close to the transcription start
site of one of the isoforms of the gene. These findings suggest that
ANK3 mRNA is an interesting marker for further
investigation of the underlying mechanisms in psychotic disorders.