title: Association analysis of COMT/MTHFR polymorphisms and major depressive disorder in Chinese Han population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In several previous biochemical and genetic studies, the Val158Met polymorphism of the gene encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and the C677T polymorphism of Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis as well as the treatment response of major depressive disorder (MDD), but the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we investigate the association of COMT/MTHFR and their interactions with MDD and antidepressant response in Chinese Han population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and sixty eight depressed patients who met DSM-IV criteria for MDD were recruited for the study. Two hundred and nineteen normal controls were recruited from the local community. Patients and normal controls were genotyped for the functional COMT val158met and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. Patients were characterized for clinical response to antidepressant treatment as measured by intra-individual changes of Hamilton Depression (HAMD-17) scores over 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The T allele (OR=1.81; CI95%=1.40-2.34, P<0.001) and C/T genotype (OR=3.66; CI95% =2.53-5.28, P<0.001) of MTHFR C677T were significantly different between case and control groups. The COMT Met/Val genotype was more common among depressed individuals than among controls (OR=1.52, CI95%=1.04-2.21, P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is disequilibrium in age and sex between case and control groups. Though we control the two variables in the statistic analysis, to be more accurate, we need to increase sample size in further study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with the genotype COMT Met/Val and MTHFR C/T have more probability of suffering from MDD. However, there is no association between gene polymorphism and treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Xinhua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210003, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Tiefeng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The Fourth People׳s Hospital of Wuhu, Wuhu 241000, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Mincai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhongxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Jushui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosis and Psychosomatic Diseases, Huzhou 3rd Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, PR China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, PR China. Electronic address: yygylh2000@sina.com.cn.
authors.forename: Yonggui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001483:Base Sequence; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
keywords: Antidepressant response; Catechol-O-methyltransferase; Major depressive disorder; Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; Polymorphism