Evidence for an association between a G-protein beta 3-gene variant with depression and response to antidepressant treatment

Citation
P. Zill et al., Evidence for an association between a G-protein beta 3-gene variant with depression and response to antidepressant treatment, NEUROREPORT, 11(9), 2000, pp. 1893-1897
Citations number
17
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
NEUROREPORT
ISSN journal
0959-4965 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
9
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1893 - 1897
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-4965(20000626)11:9<1893:EFAABA>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
Abnormal signal transduction pathways have been implicated in the pathogene sis of bipolar disorder and major depression. G-proteins are key elements o f these pathways in the regulation of cellular responses by transmission of signals from receptors to effector proteins. in recent years several studi es have reported altered levels and activities of C-protein ct subunits in depressive patients. A recently identified polymorphism of a G-protein beta 3 subunit (C825T) has been shown to be associated with increased signal tr ansduction and ion transport activity. Therefore, we investigated whether t his G beta 3 polymorphism is associated with affective disorders or with th e response to antidepressant treatment in 88 depressive patients (10 bipola r disorder, 78 major depression) compared with 68 schizophrenic patients an d 111 healthy controls. We found a significantly higher frequency of the T allele in depressive patients than in healthy controls (genotype: chi(2)=9. 571, df=2, p=0.008; alleles: p = 0.004, OR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.23-2.84; Fisher 's exact test, two sided) and schizophrenic patients (genotype: chi(2) = 8. 037, df = 2, p = 0.018; alleles: P = 0.009, OR = 1.94, 95% Ct 1.99-3.14; Fi sher's exact test, two sided). We also found a statistical significant asso ciation between TT homozygosity and response to antidepressant treatment af ter four weeks (P=0.01). The results of this study suggest that the investi gated G-protein beta 3 subunit seems to be a susceptibility factor for majo r depression and maybe even for bipolar disorder, but not for schizophrenia . Further, the presence of the T allele could be an indicator for treatment response. NeuroReport 11:1893-1897 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.