title: A single nucleotide polymorphism of the neuropeptide B/W receptor-1 gene influences the evaluation of facial expressions.
abstract: Neuropeptide B/W receptor-1 (NPBWR1) is expressed in discrete brain regions in rodents and humans, with particularly strong expression in the limbic system, including the central nucleus of the amygdala. Recently, Nagata-Kuroiwa et al. reported that Npbwr1(-/-) mice showed changes in social behavior, suggesting that NPBWR1 plays important roles in the emotional responses of social interactions.The human NPBWR1 gene has a single nucleotide polymorphism at nucleotide 404 (404A>T; SNP rs33977775). This polymorphism results in an amino acid change, Y135F. The results of an in vitro experiment demonstrated that this change alters receptor function. We investigated the effect of this variation on emotional responses to stimuli of showing human faces with four categories of emotional expressions (anger, fear, happiness, and neutral). Subjects' emotional levels on seeing these faces were rated on scales of hedonic valence, emotional arousal, and dominance (V-A-D). A significant genotype difference was observed in valence evaluation; the 404AT group perceived facial expressions more pleasantly than did the 404AA group, regardless of the category of facial expression. Statistical analysis of each combination of [V-A-D and facial expression] also showed that the 404AT group tended to feel less submissive to an angry face than did the 404AA group. Thus, a single nucleotide polymorphism of NPBWR1 seems to affect human behavior in a social context.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Irukayama-Tomobe
authors.forename: Yousuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsujino
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C485722:NPBWR1 protein, human; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide