The association between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms and affective temperaments, as measured by TEMPS-A.
BACKGROUND
Oxytocin is associated with social interaction, trust, and affectivity. Affective temperaments are traits based on Kraepelin's typological definition of the "fundamental states" of manic-depressive illness. These states can be measured by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A). The objective of this study is to assess the association between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms and affective temperaments.


METHODS
Participants consisted of 493 genetically unrelated, non-clinical Japanese subjects (307 males and 186 females). The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to screen and exclude those who had a lifetime diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Fifteen OXTR tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using TaqMan® or direct sequencing. The Haploview 4.1. software determined the haplotype block structure. Haplotype-based quantitative trait association analysis with Bonferroni correction using PLINK 1.06 software was used to assess the association between haplotypes and the following affective temperaments: depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable, and anxious.


RESULTS
Two haplotype blocks were identified on the OXTR. The depressive temperament was significantly associated with the most frequent haplotype GGGTGTC (rs11131149/rs2243370/rs2243369/rs13316193/rs2254298/rs2268493/rs2268491) (corrected P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study consisted of participants from a corporation and the effect sizes were small.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that an OXTR haplotype is associated with a discrete depressive temperament. Clarification of the biological basis of this temperamental trait may help to elucidate the pathophysiology of depressive disorder.
Kawamura
Yoshiya
Y
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. yoshiya-tky@umin.ac.jp
Liu
Xiaoxi
X
Akiyama
Tsuyoshi
T
Shimada
Takafumi
T
Otowa
Takeshi
T
Sakai
Yoshie
Y
Kakiuchi
Chihiro
C
Umekage
Tadashi
T
Sasaki
Tsukasa
T
Akiskal
Hagop S
HS
D000328:Adult; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011594:Psychometrics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013694:Temperament
D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin