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Early adversity and 5-HTT/BDNF genes: new evidence of gene–environment interactions on depressive symptoms in a general population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

M. Aguilera ,
B. Arias ,
M. Wichers ,
N. Barrantes-Vidal ,
J. Moya ,
H. Villa ,
J. van Os ,
M. I. Ibáñez ,
M. A. Ruipérez  and
G. Ortet
...Show all authors
M. Aguilera
Affiliation:
Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB) and CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
B. Arias
Affiliation:
Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB) and CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
M. Wichers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
N. Barrantes-Vidal
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Clínica i de la Salut, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and CIBER Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
J. Moya
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials, Universitat Jaume I, Spain
H. Villa
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials, Universitat Jaume I, Spain
J. van Os
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
M. I. Ibáñez
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials, Universitat Jaume I, Spain
M. A. Ruipérez
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials, Universitat Jaume I, Spain
G. Ortet
Affiliation:
Departament de Psicologia Bàsica, Clínica i Psicobiologia, Facultat de Ciències Humanes i Socials, Universitat Jaume I, Spain
L. Fañanás*
Affiliation:
Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB) and CIBER de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr L. Fañanás, Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament Biologia Animal, Facultat Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

Adverse childhood experiences have been described as one of the major environmental risk factors for depressive disorder. Similarly, the deleterious impact of early traumatic experiences on depression seems to be moderated by individual genetic variability. Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulate the effect of childhood adversity on adult depression, although inconsistencies across studies have been found. Moreover, the gene×environment (G×E) interaction concerning the different types of childhood adversity remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyse the putative interaction between the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR polymorphism), the BDNF gene (Val66Met polymorphism) and childhood adversity in accounting for adult depressive symptoms.

Method

A sample of 534 healthy individuals filled in self-report questionnaires of depressive symptomatology [the Symptom Check List 90 Revised (SCL-90-R)] and different types of childhood adversities [the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)]. The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (5-HTT gene) and the Val66Met polymorphism (BDNF gene) were genotyped in the whole sample.

Results

Total childhood adversity (β=0.27, p<0.001), childhood sexual abuse (CSA; β=0.17, p<0.001), childhood emotional abuse (β=0.27, p<0.001) and childhood emotional neglect (β=0.22, p<0.001) had an impact on adult depressive symptoms. CSA had a greater impact on depressive symptoms in Met allele carriers of the BDNF gene than in the Val/Val group (F=5.87, p<0.0001), and in S carriers of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (5-HTT gene) (F=5.80, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Childhood adversity per se predicted higher levels of adult depressive symptoms. In addition, BDNF Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms seemed to moderate the effect of CSA on adult depressive symptoms.

Keywords

BDNF Val66Metchildhood adversitydepressionG×E interaction5-HTTLPR
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 9 , September 2009 , pp. 1425 - 1432
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press

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