title: Heritability of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor Type 1 Expression and Vitamin D Levels in Healthy Adolescent Twins.
abstract: Cytokines and vitamin D both have a role in modulating the immune system, and are also potentially useful biomarkers in mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia. Studying the variability of cytokines and vitamin D in a healthy population sample may add to understanding the association between these biomarkers and mental illness. To assess genetic and environmental contributions to variation in circulating levels of cytokines and vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D: 25(OH)D3), we analyzed data from a healthy adolescent twin cohort (mean age 16.2 years; standard deviation 0.25). Plasma cytokine measures were available for 400 individuals (85 MZ, 115 DZ pairs), dried blood spot sample vitamin D measures were available for 378 individuals (70 MZ, 118 DZ pairs). Heritability estimates were moderate but significant for the cytokines transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), 0.57 (95% CI 0.26-0.80) and tumor necrosis factor-receptor type 1 (TNFR1), 0.50 (95% CI 0.11-0.63) respectively. Measures of 25(OH)D3 were within normal range and heritability was estimated to be high (0.86, 95% CI 0.61-0.94). Assays of other cytokines did not generate meaningful results. These potential biomarkers may be useful in mental illness, with further research warranted in larger sample sizes. They may be particularly important in adolescents with mental illness where diagnostic uncertainty poses a significant clinical challenge.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Margie J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Anjali K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Henders
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Darryl W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Eyles
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Psychiatry,School of Medicine,University of Adelaide,Adelaide,South Australia,Australia.
authors.forename: Bernhard T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Baune
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Enda M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Narelle K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hansell
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine,James Cook University,Townsville,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Birosova
authors.affiliation: Metro North Mental Health,Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Genetic Epidemiology,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Grant W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Naomi R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Wray
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute,University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Anna A E
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vinkhuyzen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D011793:Queensland; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: heritability