title: Polymorphisms in CRHR1 and the serotonin transporter loci: gene x gene x environment interactions on depressive symptoms.
abstract: Gene x environment (G x E) interactions mediating depressive symptoms have been separately identified in the stress-sensitive serotonergic (5-HTTLPR) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRHR1) systems. Our objective was to examine whether the effects of child abuse are moderated by gene x gene (G x G) interactions between CRHR1 and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. We used an association study examining G x G x E interactions of CRHR1 and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms and measures of child abuse on adult depressive symptomatology. The participant population (N = 1,392) was African-American, of low socioeconomic status (60% with <$1,000/month family income), and with high rates of childhood and lifetime trauma. Depressive symptoms were measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and history of Major Depression by Structure Clinical Interview based on DSM-IV (SCID). We first replicated an interaction of child abuse and 5-HTTLPR on lifetime SCID diagnosis of major depression in a subsample (N = 236) of the study population-the largest African-American 5-HTTLPR cohort reported to date. We then extended our previously reported interaction with both a CRHR1 SNP (rs110402) and TCA haplotype interacting with child abuse to predict current symptoms (N = 1,059; P = 0.0089). We found that the 5-HTTLPR S allele interacted with CRHR1 haplotypes and child abuse to predict current depressive symptoms (N = 856, P = 0.016). These data suggest that G x E interactions predictive of depressive symptoms may be differentially sensitive to levels of childhood trauma, and the effects of child abuse are moderated by genetic variation at both the CRHR1 and 5-HTTLPR loci and by their G x G interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. kressle@emory.edu
authors.forename: Kerry J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ressler
authors.forename: Bekh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Kristina B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Todd C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Deveau
authors.forename: Alicia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Nemeroff
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cubells
authors.forename: Elisabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Binder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002649:Child Abuse; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
chemical_list: D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1