Genetic and serum biomarker evidence for a relationship between TNFα and PTSD in Vietnam war combat veterans.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased inflammation and comorbid medical conditions. However, study findings for individual inflammatory marker levels have been inconsistent. Some research suggests that resilience may play a role in decreased inflammation. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor α gene (TNFα), TNFA -308 (rs1800629) is associated with psychiatric illness but its role in PTSD is yet to be elucidated.



This study investigates a key inflammatory marker, TNFα, for its role in PTSD severity.



In a cohort of trauma-exposed Vietnam War veterans (n=299; 159 cases, 140 controls) TNF α serum levels and TNFα polymorphism rs1800629 were correlated with PTSD severity and resilience scores.



The polymorphism was associated with PTSD severity (p=0.045). There were significant group differences between cases and controls with regards to serum TNFα levels (p=0.036). Significant correlations were found between PTSD severity and elevated TNFα levels (r=0.153; p=0.009), and between resilience and decreased TNFα levels at a trend level (p=0.08) across the entire cohort. These relationships were non-significant after controlling for covariates. In the PTSD diagnostic group, a correlation of TNFα and PTSD severity was observed on a trend level (p=0.06), the relationship between TNFα and resilience remained non-significant.



To our knowledge, this is the first time rs1800629 has been investigated in PTSD contributing to a growing body of literature that identifies the GG as a risk genotype for psychiatric disorders in Caucasian cohorts. However, more research is needed to replicate our results in larger, equally well-characterized cohorts. The relationship between serum TNFα levels and PTSD severity and resilience requires further investigation.
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia; Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, Queensland, 4120, Australia.
Dagmar
D
Bruenig
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
Divya
D
Mehta
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
Charles P
CP
Morris
Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, Queensland, 4120, Australia.
Wendy
W
Harvey
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
Bruce
B
Lawford
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
Ross McD
RM
Young
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and School of Biomedical Sciences, 60 Musk Avenue, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia. Electronic address: j.voisey@qut.edu.au.
Joanne
J
Voisey
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha