Genetic Role of BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR Polymorphisms on Depressive Disorder.
- Author:
Kyu Young LEE
1
;
Seong Hoon JEONG
;
Se Hyun KIM
;
Yong Min AHN
;
Yong Sik KIM
;
Hee Yeon JUNG
;
Yang Weon BANG
;
Eun Jeong JOO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: BDNF Val66Met; 5-HTTLPR; Depressive disorder; Genetic polymorphism; Onset; Serotonin transporter
- MeSH: Alleles; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*; Depression; Depressive Disorder*; Diagnosis; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Male; Polymorphism, Genetic; Serotonergic Neurons; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2014;11(2):192-199
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We investigated possible association between depressive disorders and BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene are promising candidate genes for depressive disorders. It has been suggested that BDNF promotes the survival and differentiation of serotonergic neurons and that serotonergic transmission exerts powerful control over BDNF gene expression. METHODS: Final analyses were performed on 186 patients with depressive disorders and 1032 controls. Val66Met polymorphism of BDNF gene and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of serotonin transporter gene were genotyped and allele and genotypic associations on the diagnosis of depression and age at onset of depression were analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-HTTLPR was positively associated with depressive affected status in the total sample and in females (p=0.038 for allelewise, p=0.015 for genotype-wise associations), but, not in males. The BDNF Val66Met showed no association with depression. BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR alone were not associated with age at onset of depression. Additional analysis on the interaction between BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR found a significant association with age at onset of depression in the entire patient group. This association was also found in the female but not in the male patient group. None of the positive results survived Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSION: This result suggested that BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR may contribute to depressive disorders in a complex way and that the genetic effect could differ by gender. Further studies with large number of patients will be necessary.
