title: Association analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) haplotypes (ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI) with mood and anxiety disorders in patients with asthma.
abstract: Chronic inflammation in the bronchi of long-term asthma patients worsens mood disorders, which has been shown to correlate with elevated levels of multiple proinflammatory cytokines. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene,NR3C1,plays a key role in the control of inflammation. Disturbances in the structure and function of the GR alter the glucocorticoid regulation of the corticotropin-releasing hormone, which leads to nonspecific activation of numerous receptors in the brain and alters the metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role ofNR3C1haplotypes in mood and anxiety disorders. The study included 235 patients with asthma and 216 healthy individuals. Genotyping ofNR3C1gene polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Beck's Depression Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory tests and the Borg scale were applied for all the subjects. Significant differences in the levels of depression (P=0.000008) and dyspnea (P=0.000001) were observed between the patients and healthy subjects. In addition, a correlation was identified between spirometric parameters and the intensity of depression, anxiety and subjective dyspnea. The AA ER22/23EK, AA N363S and CC BclI haplotype of theNR3C1gene was identified to significantly aggravate trait anxiety in patients with asthma (P=0.026). Therefore, theNR3C1gene substantially modified the level of trait anxiety in asthma sufferers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology and Allergology, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pietras
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szemraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship 90-153, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuna
keywords: anxiety; asthma; breathlessness; depression; glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1; inflammation