Association of GSK3beta polymorphisms with brain structural changes in major depressive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Indirect evidence suggests that the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3beta) gene might be implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD).


BACKGROUND
We evaluated 15 GSK3beta single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to test for associations with regional gray matter (GM) volume differences in patients with recurrent MDD. We then used the defined regions of interest based on significant associations to test for MDD x genotype interactions by including a matched control group without any psychiatric disorder, including MDD.


METHODS
General linear model with nonstationary cluster-based inference.


METHODS
Munich, Germany.


METHODS
Patients with recurrent MDD (n = 134) and age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls (n = 143).


METHODS
Associations between GSK3beta polymorphisms and regional GM volume differences.


RESULTS
Variation in GM volume was associated with GSK3beta polymorphisms; the most significant associations were found for rs6438552, a putative functional intronic SNP that showed 3 significant GM clusters in the right and left superior temporal gyri and the right hippocampus (P < .001, P = .02, and P = .02, respectively, corrected for multiple comparisons across the whole brain). Similar results were obtained with rs12630592, an SNP in high linkage disequilibrium. A significant SNP x MDD status interaction was observed for the effect on GM volumes in the right hippocampus and superior temporal gyri (P < .001 and P = .01, corrected, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The GSK3beta gene may have a role in determining regional GM volume differences of the right hippocampus and bilateral superior temporal gyri. The association between genotype and brain structure was specific to the patients with MDD, suggesting that GSK3beta genotypes might interact with MDD status. We speculate that this is a consequence of regional neocortical, glial, or neuronal growth or survival. In considering core cognitive features of MDD, the association of GSK3beta polymorphisms with structural variation in the temporal lobe and hippocampus is of particular interest in the context of other evidence for structural and functional abnormalities in the hippocampi of patients with MDD.
Inkster
Becky
B
GlaxoSmithKline Clinical Imaging Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.
Nichols
Thomas E
TE
Saemann
Philipp G
PG
Auer
Dorothee P
DP
Holsboer
Florian
F
Muglia
Pierandrea
P
Matthews
Paul M
PM
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology
C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3