Promoter polymorphisms of the interferon-alpha receptor gene and development of Interferon-induced depressive symptoms in patients with chronic hepatitis C: preliminary findings.
BACKGROUND
Interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment frequently induces depression, which can impair quality of life and reduce treatment adherence. Defining relevant risk factors for IFN-alpha-induced depression is essential for designing preventative treatment strategies.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether promoter polymorphisms of -408C/T, -3C/T and GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite in the IFN-alpha/beta receptor 1 (IFNAR1) gene are associated with the development of IFN-induced depression.


METHODS
Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with pegylated IFN alpha-2b plus a standard or weight-based dose of ribavirin. Severity of depression was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment.


RESULTS
The baseline to maximum difference in the SDS index score of neurovegetative/somatic symptoms was higher in patients with the 5/14 genotype of the GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite polymorphism than in those patients with other genotypes (p = 0.0084).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary result suggests that the promoter GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite polymorphism of the IFNAR1 gene may represent a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms during IFN-alpha therapy for hepatitis C and other conditions.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga., USA. cxw01076@nifty.com
Keizo
K
Yoshida
Oyetunde
O
Alagbe
Xiaohong
X
Wang
Bobbi
B
Woolwine
Marie
M
Thornbury
Charles L
CL
Raison
Andrew H
AH
Miller
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta