Methylation levels of DRD2 gene in melancholic depression patients and its association with psychosocial factors and symptom severity
10.3760/cma.j.cn371468-20250618-00284
- VernacularTitle:伴忧郁特征抑郁障碍患者 DRD2基因甲基化水平与社会心理因素、抑郁程度关联性研究
- Author:
Ziqi LI
1
;
Hongxing HU
Author Information
1. 新疆医科大学第一附属医院心理医学中心，乌鲁木齐 830000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Major depressive disorder;
Melancholic depression;
Dopamine D2 receptor gene;
DNA methylation;
Anhedonia
- From:
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science
2025;34(11):997-1004
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the association between dopamine D2 receptor ( DRD2) promoter methylation levels and melancholic depression (MD), and its correlation with psychosocial factors and depression severity. Method:A total of 30 patients with melancholic depression (MD group) and 30 with non-melancholic depression (NMD group) were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between October 2023 and October 2024, along with 30 healthy controls. Participants were assessed by the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-24), dimensional anhedonia rating scale (DARS), childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), life event scale (LES), and social support rating scale (SSRS). DRD2 methylation levels in peripheral blood were measured by MassArray technology. Data were analyzed in SPSS 29.0 software using ANOVA, non-parametric tests, and t-tests to compare methylation levels among groups, and Logistic regression, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to examine associations between DRD2 methylation and psychosocial factors and depression severity. Results:(1) There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in years of education ( F=9.873, P=0.007), HAMD-24 total scores ( H=76.669, P<0.001), DARS total scores ( H=60.617, P<0.001), SSRS total scores ( F=3.592, P=0.032), LES negative stimulus scores ( H=43.461, P<0.001), and CTQ total scores ( H=10.751, P=0.005). The MD group had a longer course of illness ( Z=-1.980, P=0.048), more episodes ( Z=-2.027, P=0.043), and a higher rate of suicide attempts in the past year ( χ2= 9.643, P=0.002) compared with the NMD group. The MD group had higher HAMD-24 total scores (31.00 (28.00, 32.25)) than the NMD group (23.00 (21.00, 25.00)), and lower DARS total scores (17.00 (9.75, 22.00)) compared with the NMD group(36.50 (33.75, 43.00)) (both P<0.05). (2) No statistically significant difference was found in DRD2 gene methylation levels among the three groups ( F=0.081, all P>0.05). Logistic regression showed that DRD2 gene methylation level was not an influencing factor for the onset of MD ( P>0.05). (3)The correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis showed that childhood trauma (CTQ total score) was negatively correlated with DRD2 gene methylation levels in MD patients ( r=-0.416, P=0.025) and MDD patients. DRD2 gene methylation level was not correlated with depression severity ( r=0.136, P>0.05) or anhedonia severity (both P>0.05). Social support (SSRS total score) was positively correlated with DARS total scores in MD patients( r=0.427, P=0.019), and years of education had a positive association with DARS total scores in MDD patients ( B=1.527, P=0.030), suggesting that both are negatively correlated with the degree of anhedonia. Conclusion:DRD2 methylation may be influenced by early-life trauma, but its role in the pathogenesis of MD and its association with depression severity require further investigation.
