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Gene–environment interactions between HPA-axis genes and stressful life events in depression: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2019

Caroline Normann  and
Henriette N. Buttenschøn
Caroline Normann*
Affiliation:
Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
Henriette N. Buttenschøn
Affiliation:
Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark NIDO | Denmark, Regional Hospital West Jutland, Denmark
*
Author for correspondence: Caroline Normann, Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

Depression is a disorder caused by genetics and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to perform a review investigating the interaction between genetic variations located in genes involved in hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and stressful life events (SLEs) in depression.

Methods:

In this systematic review, we selected articles investigating the interaction between genes involved in the HPA-axis, such as Arginine Vasopressin (AVP), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH), Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone Receptor 1 (CRHR1), Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone Receptor 2 (CRHR2), FK506 binding protein (FKBP5), Nuclear Receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1), Nuclear Receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2), and SLE. The literature search was conducted using the Pubmed, Embase, and PsychINFO databases in adherence with the PRISMA guidelines.

Results:

The search yielded 48 potentially relevant studies, of which 40 were excluded following screening. Eight studies were included in the final review. A total of 97 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined in the eight included studies. The most prevalent gene was FKBP5, and the best studied polymorphism was FKBP5:rs1360780. Two of the five studies reported significant gene–environment (G × E) interactions between rs1360780 and SLE. Overall, four studies reported significant G × E interactions between FKBP5, CRH, or CRHR1 and SLE, respectively. No significant G × E interactions were found for the remaining genes.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that genetic variation in three genes in the HPA-axis possibly moderate the effects of SLEs in depression.

Keywords

depressiongene–environment interactionpolymorphismsingle nucleotidelife change eventsstresspsychological
Type
Review Article
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 186 - 192
Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2019 

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