Gene-by-social-environment interaction (GxSE) between ADCYAP1R1 genotype and neighborhood crime predicts major depression symptoms in trauma-exposed women.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have explored interactions between genes and social environmental exposures (GxSEs) for trauma-related psychopathology, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and major depression (MD). The extant literature suggests the possibility of a GxSE between the rs2267735 variant of the ADCYAP1R1 gene and neighborhood crime. The current study aimed to explore this possibility among a predominantly African American sample of trauma-exposed women.


METHODS
Female participants (N=1361) were recruited from a public hospital, and completed measures of PTS and MD symptoms and provided DNA samples. Participants' home addresses were mapped onto 300 neighborhoods (2010 census tracts), and data on crime within neighborhoods was collected.


RESULTS
Multilevel models detected a significant GxSE between rs2267735 and neighborhood crime for MD symptoms (p=.01). Having two copies of the risk (C) allele was associated with higher MD symptoms for participants living in high-crime neighborhoods.


CONCLUSIONS
At least six limitations are noteworthy: (1) low statistical power; (2) use of self-report symptom inventories; (3) lack of information on symptom onset; (4) homogeneous sample from a single metropolitan area; (5) non-specific index of crime; and (6) use of census tracts to define neighborhoods.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide further evidence of GxSEs for psychiatric outcomes among trauma-exposed populations. Further investigations of genetic factors for trauma-related psychopathology should include careful assessments of the social environment.
Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA. Electronic address: lowes@montclair.edu.
Sarah R
SR
Lowe
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
John
J
Pothen
Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA.
James W
JW
Quinn
Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA.
Andrew
A
Rundle
Mental Health Service Line, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Bekh
B
Bradley
Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Sandro
S
Galea
Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Kerry J
KJ
Ressler
Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA.
Karestan C
KC
Koenen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012931:Social Environment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C495503:ADCYAP1R1 protein, human; D051237:Receptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type I
Gene-by-social-environment interactions; Genetic risk; Major depression; Multilevel modeling; Neighborhood crime; Posttraumatic stress; Social environment