title: Genetic variants in serotonin and corticosteroid systems modulate neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to intense stress.
abstract: Common variants in serotonin and corticosteroid receptor genes influence human stress in laboratory settings. Little is known of their combined effects, especially in high stress environments. This study evaluated distinct and combined effects of polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter (5HTTLPRL/S), glucocorticoid receptor (Bcl1C/G), and mineralocorticoid (-2C/G) receptor genes on adrenocortical and cardiovascular responses to intense, realistic stress. One hundred and forty four healthy, active-duty military men were studied before, during, and 24h after a stressful 12-day survival course. Dependent variables were cortisol, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). 5HTTLPR SS carriers revealed higher overall cortisol concentrations than L carriers (p=.022). 5HTTLPR L carriers demonstrated higher stress-induced HR than non-carriers (SS) yet rebounded to a lower recovery value (p=.026), while Bcl1 G carriers showed higher mean stress-induced HR than non-carriers (CC) (p=.047). For DBP, 5HTTLPR S carriers showed higher overall values than non-carriers (LL) (p=.043), Bcl1 GG were higher than C carriers (p=.039), and -2C/G G carriers exceeded non-carriers (CC) (p=.028). A "high" composite genotype group revealed substantially higher overall cortisol concentrations than a "low" composite genotype group (p<.001), as was the case for DBP (p=.037). This study revealed a synergistic effect of common polymorphisms on the acute stress response in healthy men. Pending additional study, these findings may have implications for drug discovery, gene therapy, and stress inoculation strategies.
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States; Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States; Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States. Electronic address: marc.taylor@med.navy.mil.
authors.forename: Marcus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Biobehavioral Sciences Lab, Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Gerald E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Naval Special Warfare Center, San Diego, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Melissa D Hiller
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lauby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000235:genetics; D012463:Saliva; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cardiovascular; Cortisol; Endophenotype; Genotype; Polymorphism; Stress