title: A Case-Control Study and Meta-Analysis Reveal BDNF Val66Met Is a Possible Risk Factor for PTSD.
abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that develops in some people after exposure to a traumatic event. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is highly expressed in the mammalian brain and is thought to be involved in learning and memory processes. A nonsynonymous polymorphism in the BDNF gene, rs6265 (Val66Met), has been hypothesised to be associated with PTSD. Association studies examining the Val66Met polymorphism and PTSD have been inconclusive, likely due to the variability in type of trauma exposure analysed. Vietnam veterans (n = 257) screened for PTSD and controlled for trauma exposure were genotyped for BDNF Val66Met. The association was not significant so we incorporated our data into a meta-analysis to obtain greater statistical power. A comprehensive search of more than 1237 articles revealed eight additional studies suitable for meta-analysis (n = 3625). A random-effects meta-analysis observed a potential protective factor of the Val/Val genotype. After removing two studies with violation of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, findings for the Val/Val genotype reached significance. Subgroup analyses confirmed a trend for this finding. Limitations of some studies that inform this meta-analysis include poorly screened controls and a lack of examination of population stratification. Effectively designed studies should inform this line of research in the future.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruenig
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD 4120, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawford
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross McD
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6645-6164
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voisey
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human