Candidate genes involved in neural plasticity and the risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of 8 common variants.
BACKGROUND
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important psychiatric condition in terms of its prevalence and impact on quality of life. It has one of the highest heritabilities found in psychiatric disorders. A number of association studies exploring several candidate genes in different populations around the world have been carried out. The objective of the present study was to carry out a meta-analysis for 8 common variants located in 5 top candidate genes for ADHD (BDNF, HTR1B, SLC6A2, SLC6A4 and SNAP25); these genes are known to be involved in synaptic transmission and plasticity.


METHODS
We performed a search for published genetic association studies that analyzed the candidate polymorphisms in different populations, and we applied state-of-the-art meta-analytical procedures to obtain pooled odds ratios (ORs) and to evaluate potential basis of heterogeneity. We included 75 genetic association studies in these meta-analyses.


RESULTS
A major part of the previously postulated associations were nonconsistent in the pooled odds ratios. We observed a weak significant association with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the 3' UTR region of the SNAP25 gene (rs3746544, T allele, OR 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.31, p = 0.028, I(2) = 0%). In addition to the low coverage of genetic variability given by these variants, phenotypic heterogeneity between samples (ADHD subtypes, comorbidities) and genetic background may explain these differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations of our study include the retrospective nature of our meta-analysis with the incorporation of study-level data from published articles.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, the present study is the largest meta-analysis carried out for ADHD genetics; previously proposed cumulative associations with common polymorphisms in SLC6A4 and HTR1B genes were not supported. We identified a weak consistent association with a common SNP in the SNAP25 gene, a molecule that is known to be central for synaptic transmission and plasticity mechanisms.
Forero
Diego A
DA
Neurosciences Research Group, School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. daforerog@unal.edu.co
Arboleda
Gonzalo H
GH
Vasquez
Rafael
R
Arboleda
Humberto
H
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics*; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012984:Software; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / Q000235:genetics
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C470302:HTR1B protein, human; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; C493227:SLC6A2 protein, human; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; C494208:SNAP25 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050825:Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25