BDNF Val66Met polymorphism alters sympathovagal balance in healthy subjects.
A common polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Val66Met) has been implicated in anxiety, which is associated with lower vagal activity. We hypothesize that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may have a modulatory effect on the cardiac sympathovagal balance. A total of 211 healthy Chinese-Han adults (58 male, 153 female, aged 33.3 +/- 10.3 years) were recruited with three BDNF genotypes: Val/Val (47, 22.3%), Val/Met (108, 51.2%), and Met/Met (56, 26.5%). Autonomic function was assessed via an analysis of heart rate variability. Reductions in high-frequency power, an index for parasympathetic activity, and increases in the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio, an index for sympathovagal balance, were found in subjects bearing the Met/Met genotype as compared to the Val/Val group. These results suggest that an altered sympathovagal balance with relatively decreased parasympathetic activity is associated with the Met/Met genotype, suggesting a potential role for the studied BDNF polymorphism in modulating cardiac autonomic functions.
Yang
Albert C
AC
Chu-Tung Veterans Hospital, Hsin-Chu County, Taiwan. ccyang@physionet.org
Chen
Tai-Jui
TJ
Tsai
Shih-Jen
SJ
Hong
Chen-Jee
CJ
Kuo
Chung-Hsun
CH
Yang
Cheng-Hung
CH
Kao
Ko-Pei
KP
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006262:Health; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D010551:Personality; D010556:Personality Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine