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Association of glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms with the susceptibility to major depressive disorder and treatment responses in Korean depressive patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2014

Hwa-Young Lee ,
Rhee-Hun Kang ,
Sang-Woo Han ,
Jong-Woo Paik ,
Hun Soo Chang ,
Yoo Jung Jeong  and
Min-Soo Lee
Hwa-Young Lee
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Center for Depression, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Institute of Human Behavior and Gene, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Rhee-Hun Kang
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Center for Depression, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Institute of Human Behavior and Gene, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Sang-Woo Han
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea
Jong-Woo Paik
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea
Hun Soo Chang
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Center for Depression, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Institute of Human Behavior and Gene, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Yoo Jung Jeong
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Center for Depression, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Institute of Human Behavior and Gene, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
Min-Soo Lee*
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Center for Depression, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Institute of Human Behavior and Gene, Korea University, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
*
Min-Soo Lee, 126-1 Anamdong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705 Seoul, Korea. Tel: +82 2 920 5997; Fax: +82 2 923 8119; E-mail: leeminso@korea.ac.kr
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Abstract

Objective:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is closely related to stress reactions and serotonin probably underpins the pathophysiology of MDD. Alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis at the gene level have reciprocal consequences on serotonin neurotransmission. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) polymorphisms affect glucocorticoid sensitivity, which is associated with cortisol feedback effects. Therefore, we hypothesised that GR polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to MDD and predict the treatment response.

Method:

Ninety-six subjects with a minimum score of 17 on the 21-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) at baseline were enrolled into the present study. The genotypes of GR (N363S, ER22/23EK, Bcl1, and TthIII1 polymorphisms) were analysed. The HAMD score was again measured after 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment to detect whether the therapeutic effects differed with the GR genotype.

Results:

Our subjects carried no N363S or ER22/23EK genetic polymorphisms and three types of Bcl1 and TthIII1 genetic polymorphisms. The C/C genotype and C allele at Bcl1 polymorphism were more frequent in MDD patients than in normal controls (p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). The genotype distributions did not differ significantly between responders and non-responders.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that GR polymorphism cannot predict the therapeutic response after antidepressant administration. However, GR polymorphism (Bcl1) might play a role in the pathophysiology of MDD. Future studies should check this finding in larger populations with different characteristics.

Keywords

depressionglucocorticoid receptorpolymorphismsusceptibilitytreatment response

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2009 , pp. 11 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard

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