Stress perception and (GT)n repeat polymorphism in haem oxygenase 1 promoter are both risk factors in development of eating disorders.
Haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1) plays a pivotal role in metabolic stress protecting cells in dependence on reactive oxygen species. This study investigated a potential gene environment interaction between the (GT)n repeat HO1 polymorphism and the stress perception in patients with eating disorder and in controls. Stress perception and (GT)n polymorphism were measured in 127 patients with eating disorders and in 78 healthy controls using Stress and Coping Inventory and genotyping. Based on the inventory, overall, specific and weighted stress scores were defined. Clinical stress score was generated according to the patient's history and interviews. According to our hypothesis, 1) all stress scores describing subjective stress perception were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (P ≤ 0.001; P ≤ 0.002; P ≤ 0.001), 2) the L/L genotype of GT promoter repeats (L < 25 GT repeats, S < 25 GT repeats) in the patients was associated with higher overall (P ≤ 0.001), specific (P ≤ 0.010) and weighted stress score (P ≤ 0.005) compared to the L/S variant, and 3) Pearson's correlation of clinical versus objective stress scores showed not very tight relationship (0.198; 0.287; 0.224, respectively). We assume potential risk of the L allele of HO1 promoter polymorphism for the stress response and contribution of the subjective stress perception together with the L/L genotype to the development of eating disorder. Decreased HO1 expression in the presence of L/L genotype plus more intensive stress perception in the patients can lead to secondary stress, with increasing severity of the symptoms and aggravation of the disease.
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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L
Slachtová
Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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D
Kaminská
Institute for Research and Development of Education, Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague,Czech Republic.
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M
Chvál
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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L
Králík
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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P
Martásek
Department of Psychiatry, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic.
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H
Papežová
D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1