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Stephens MAC, McCaul ME, Weerts EM, Wand G. Serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotype is associated with cortisol responsivity to naloxone challenge. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 224:223-30. [PMID: 22623017 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2742-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The serotonergic and opioidergic neurotransmitter systems are critical regulators of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through their respective excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype has been studied as a marker of HPA axis dysregulation and for predicting risk of psychopathology, with mixed findings. OBJECTIVES We stimulated the HPA axis with naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, to examine cortisol reactivity based on 5-HTT-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes. METHODS Healthy community volunteers (N = 78) received intravenous (IV) placebo followed by sequential doses of IV naloxone (50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/kg) every 30 min. Plasma cortisol was measured every 15 min. Participants were genotyped for the long (L) and short (S) alleles of the 5-HTT gene and for rs25531 (A/G) in the 5-HTTLPR repetitive element and compared by the 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 genotype (triallele) and by the 5-HTTLPR genotype (biallele) classification. RESULTS In triallele analyses, individuals with one or more L(A) alleles showed higher cortisol response to naloxone compared with individuals with no L(A) alleles. In biallele analyses, less robust effects were found, although individuals with two L alleles showed a higher cortisol response compared with other genotypes. CONCLUSIONS Naloxone blockade leads to a greater activation of the HPA axis among individuals with the L(A) allele. Including rs25531 in the analysis with the 5-HTTLPR genotype appears more sensitive in detecting genetic differences in naloxone-induced cortisol than when using only the 5-HTTLPR genotype. Future research should investigate the interactive effects between the serotonergic and opioidergic systems on HPA axis dysregulation and psychopathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann C Stephens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway, Ste. 115, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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Ferguson B, Hunter JE, Luty J, Street SL, Woodall A, Grant KA. Genetic load is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation in macaques. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2012; 11:949-57. [PMID: 22998353 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00856.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis pathway is associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and alcohol abuse. Studies have demonstrated an association between HPA axis dysfunction and gene variants within the cortisol, serotonin and opioid signaling pathways. We characterized polymorphisms in genes linked to these three neurotransmitter pathways and tested their potential interactions with HPA axis activity, as measured by dexamethasone (DEX) suppression response. We determined the percent DEX suppression of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in 62 unrelated, male rhesus macaques. While DEX suppression of cortisol was robust amongst 87% of the subjects, ACTH suppression levels were broadly distributed from -21% to 66%. Thirty-seven monkeys from the high and low ends of the ACTH suppression distribution (18 'high' and 19 'low' animals) were genotyped at selected polymorphisms in five unlinked genes (rhCRH, rhTPH2, rhMAOA, rhSLC6A4 and rhOPRM). Associations were identified between three variants (rhCRH-2610C>T, rhTPH2 2051A>C and rh5-HTTLPR) and level of DEX suppression of ACTH. In addition, a significant additive effect of the 'risk' genotypes from these three loci was detected, with an increasing number of 'risk' genotypes associated with a blunted ACTH response (P = 0.0009). These findings suggest that assessment of multiple risk alleles in serotonin and cortisol signaling pathway genes may better predict risk for HPA axis dysregulation and associated psychiatric disorders than the evaluation of single gene variants alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ferguson
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - J E Hunter
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J Luty
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - S L Street
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - A Woodall
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - K A Grant
- Division of Neurosciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Beaverton, OR, USA.,Behavioral Neurosciences Department, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
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Lindstedt F, Karshikoff B, Schalling M, Olgart Höglund C, Ingvar M, Lekander M, Kosek E. Serotonin-1A receptor polymorphism (rs6295) associated with thermal pain perception. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43221. [PMID: 22952650 PMCID: PMC3432037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Serotonin (5-HT) is highly involved in pain regulation and serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptors are important in determining central 5-HT tone. Accordingly, variation in the 5-HT1A receptor gene (HTR1A) may contribute to inter-individual differences in human pain sensitivity. The minor G-allele of the HTR1A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6295 attenuates firing of serotonergic neurons and reduces postsynaptic expression of the receptor. Experiments in rodents suggest that 5-HT1A-agonism modulates pain in opposite directions at mild compared to high noxious intensities. Based upon this and several other similar observations, we hypothesized that G-carriers would exhibit a relative hypoalgesia at mild thermal stimuli but tend towards hyperalgesia at higher noxious intensities. Methods Fourty-nine healthy individuals were selectively genotyped for rs6295. Heat- and cold-pain thresholds were assessed along with VAS-ratings of a range of suprathreshold noxious heat intensities (45°C–49°C). Nociceptive-flexion reflex (NFR) thresholds were also assessed. Results Volunteers did not deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. G-carriers were less sensitive to threshold-level thermal pain. This relative hypoalgesia was abolished at suprathreshold noxious intensities where G-carriers instead increased their ratings of heat-pain significantly more than C-homozygotes. No differences with regard to NFR-thresholds emerged. Conclusion/Significance To the best of our knowledge this is the first study of human pain perception on the basis of variation in HTR1A. The results illustrate the importance of including a range of stimulus intensities in assessments of pain sensitivity. In speculation, we propose that an attenuated serotonergic tone may be related to a ‘hypo- to hyperalgesic’ response-pattern. The involved mechanisms could be of clinical interest as variation in pain regulation is known to influence the risk of developing pain pathologies. Further investigations are therefore warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Lindstedt
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Salivary cortisol, heart rate, electrodermal activity and subjective stress responses to the Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test (MMST). Psychiatry Res 2012; 198:106-11. [PMID: 22397919 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2010] [Revised: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The availability of effective laboratory paradigms for inducing psychological stress is an important requirement for experimental stress research. Reliable protocols are scarce, usually laborious and manpower-intensive. In order to develop an economical, easily applicable standardized stress protocol, we have recently tailored the Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test (MMST). This test has been shown to induce relatively high stress responses without focusing on social-evaluative components. In this study we evaluated changes in electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol in response to the MMST. The MMST simultaneously combines cognitive (mental arithmetic), emotional (affective pictures), acoustic (white noise) and motivational stressors (loss of money). This study comprised two independent experiments. For experiment 1, 80 female subjects were recruited; 30 subjects (15 females) participated in experiment 2. Significant changes in electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol levels in response to MMST exposure were found. Subjective stress and heart rate responses were significantly increased in both experiments. These results indicate that the MMST is an economical stress paradigm which is also applicable in larger cohorts or multicenter studies for investigating stress reactions. As social-evaluative threat is not the main stress component of the MMST, this procedure represents a useful and complementary alternative to other established stress protocols.
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Markus CR, Verschoor E, Smeets T. Differential effect of the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region on emotional eating during stress exposure following tryptophan challenge. J Nutr Biochem 2012; 23:410-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2011.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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van den Hove DLA, Jakob SB, Schraut KG, Kenis G, Schmitt AG, Kneitz S, Scholz CJ, Wiescholleck V, Ortega G, Prickaerts J, Steinbusch H, Lesch KP. Differential effects of prenatal stress in 5-Htt deficient mice: towards molecular mechanisms of gene × environment interactions. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22715. [PMID: 21857948 PMCID: PMC3155516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal stress (PS) has been shown to influence the development of the fetal brain and to increase the risk for the development of psychiatric disorders in later life. Furthermore, the variation of human serotonin transporter (5-HTT, SLC6A4) gene was suggested to exert a modulating effect on the association between early life stress and the risk for depression. In the present study, we used a 5-Htt×PS paradigm to investigate whether the effects of PS are dependent on the 5-Htt genotype. For this purpose, the effects of PS on cognition, anxiety- and depression-related behavior were examined using a maternal restraint stress paradigm of PS in C57BL6 wild-type (WT) and heterozygous 5-Htt deficient (5-Htt +/-) mice. Additionally, in female offspring, a genome-wide hippocampal gene expression profiling was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip® Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Array. 5-Htt +/- offspring showed enhanced memory performance and signs of reduced anxiety as compared to WT offspring. In contrast, exposure of 5-Htt +/- mice to PS was associated with increased depressive-like behavior, an effect that tended to be more pronounced in female offspring. Further, 5-Htt genotype, PS and their interaction differentially affected the expression of numerous genes and related pathways within the female hippocampus. Specifically, MAPK and neurotrophin signaling were regulated by both the 5-Htt +/- genotype and PS exposure, whereas cytokine and Wnt signaling were affected in a 5-Htt genotype×PS manner, indicating a gene×environment interaction at the molecular level. In conclusion, our data suggest that although the 5-Htt +/- genotype shows clear adaptive capacity, 5-Htt +/- mice--particularly females--at the same time appear to be more vulnerable to developmental stress exposure when compared to WT offspring. Moreover, hippocampal gene expression profiles suggest that distinct molecular mechanisms mediate the behavioral effects of the 5-Htt genotype, PS exposure, and their interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Louis Albert van den Hove
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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An interaction between a neuropeptide Y gene polymorphism and early adversity modulates endocrine stress responses. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011; 36:1010-20. [PMID: 21273004 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2010] [Revised: 12/21/2010] [Accepted: 12/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Interindividual variability in the regulation of the human stress system accounts for a part of the individual's liability to stress-related diseases. These differences are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Early childhood adversity is a well-studied environmental factor affecting an individual's stress response which has been shown to be modulated by gene-environment interaction (GxE). Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a role in stress regulation and genetic variation in NPY may influence stress responses. In this study, we analyzed the association of a common variant in the NPY gene promoter, rs16147, with cortisol and ACTH responses to acute psychosocial stress in young adults from the Mannheim Study of Children at Risk (MARS), an ongoing epidemiological cohort study following the outcome of early adversity from birth into adulthood. We found evidence of a GxE interaction between rs16147 and early adversity significantly affecting HPA axis responses to acute psychosocial stress. These findings suggest that the neurobiological mechanisms linking early adverse experience and later neuroendocrine stress regulation are modulated by a gene variant whose functional relevance is documented by increasing convergent evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies.
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58
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Verschoor E, Markus CR. Affective and neuroendocrine stress reactivity to an academic examination: Influence of the 5-HTTLPR genotype and trait neuroticism. Biol Psychol 2011; 87:439-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Revised: 05/09/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Verschoor E, Markus CR. Effects of acute psychosocial stress exposure on endocrine and affective reactivity in college students differing in the 5-HTTLPR genotype and trait neuroticism. Stress 2011; 14:407-19. [PMID: 21438771 DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2010.548886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhanced stress vulnerability has been implicated in the pathogenesis of affective disorders. Although both genetic (5-HTTLPR) and cognitive (neuroticism) factors are known to increase stress vulnerability, no experimental study has investigated the interaction between these two factors on psychobiological reactivity following acute stress exposure. This study used a balanced experimental design to examine the interaction between the 5-HTTLPR genotype and trait neuroticism in neuroendocrine and affective stress responses. From a large group of 771 students, 48 carriers of the short/short (S/S) allele and 48 carriers of the long/long (L/L) allele with the lowest and the highest neuroticism scores (77 females, 19 males; mean age ± SD: 20.6 ± 2 years) were selected and exposed to an acute psychosocial stressor. Mood was assessed before and after the stressor, and salivary cortisol concentrations were measured before and at 20, 30, and 60 min after stressor onset. Acute stress increased salivary cortisol concentration regardless of either 5-HTTLPR genotype or neuroticism, but it caused a less profound negative mood change in L/L compared to S/S-allele carriers with the lowest neuroticism scores. The 5-HTTLPR genotype influences affective reactivity to acute stress conditional upon neuroticism, improving resilience to acute stress in L/L-allele carriers if they do not already possess high cognitive-affective (neuroticism) vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Verschoor
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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60
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Mueller A, Armbruster D, Moser DA, Canli T, Lesch KP, Brocke B, Kirschbaum C. Interaction of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and stressful life events predicts cortisol stress response. Neuropsychopharmacology 2011; 36:1332-9. [PMID: 21368747 PMCID: PMC3096802 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2011.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There has been significant controversy whether stressful life events (SLEs) experienced over the lifespan may elevate the risk of depression in individuals who are homozygous for the short (S) allele of the repeat length polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), compared with individuals homozygous for the long (L) allele. On the basis of the hypothesis that age may be a critical variable, by which such a gene-by-environment interaction may be present in younger adults, but not in older adults and in children, aim of this study was to investigate the role of 5-HTTLPR and SLEs on the endocrine stress response in multiple age cohorts. A total of 115 children (8-12 years), 106 younger adults (18-31 years), and 99 older adults (54-68 years) were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and structured interviews on SLEs. The TSST induced significant endocrine stress responses in all groups. There was a main effect of genotype in younger and older adults with individuals homozygous for the more active L allele showing a significantly larger cortisol response to the TSST than individuals carrying at least one of the low-expressing S alleles. As predicted, there was a significant interaction of 5-HTTLPR genotype and SLEs, but this interaction was only significant in younger adults and only when the measured SLEs had occurred during the first 5 years of life, suggesting that both age and the specific type of SLE has a role in whether a significant gene-environment interaction is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anett Mueller
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA.
| | - Diana Armbruster
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dirk A Moser
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Turhan Canli
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA,Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Brocke
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden, Germany,Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Molecular Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Devereux J, Rydstedt LW, Cropley M. An exploratory study to assess the impact of work demands and the anticipation of work on awakening saliva cortisol. Psychol Rep 2011; 108:274-80. [PMID: 21526611 DOI: 10.2466/09.14.17.pr0.108.1.274-280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The goal was to investigate whether cortisol on awakening is higher on Monday relative to Sunday morning, and to assess whether responses vary with job demands and the anticipation of work. 77 white collar workers gave a sample of saliva on awakening Sunday and Monday mornings, and then rated their anticipation for work. Data showed that salivary cortisol concentration was greater on Monday compared to Sunday morning. There were no main effects of job demands or anticipation of work on cortisol secretion. There was a significant interaction between job demands and anticipation of work on Monday, relative to Sunday morning. Cortisol secretion was higher in those reporting high job demands together with a greater anticipation of work. It was concluded that increased awakening saliva cortisol secretion is not necessarily a result of working in a highly demanding environment. Anticipating the impending working day appears to be an important influence on adrenal-cortical activity.
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62
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Donoho CJ, Weigensberg MJ, Emken BA, Hsu JW, Spruijt-Metz D. Stress and abdominal fat: preliminary evidence of moderation by the cortisol awakening response in Hispanic peripubertal girls. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2011; 19:946-52. [PMID: 21127479 PMCID: PMC3107005 DOI: 10.1038/oby.2010.287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Stress and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) have been independently linked to increases in abdominal fat depots. This cross-sectional study examined the CAR as a moderator of the association between stress, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT) in a sample (N = 23) of female peripubertal Hispanic girls aged from 8 to 11. The study included: (i) monitored salivary cortisol collection, (ii) VAT and SAT obtained by multislice magnetic resonance imaging, and (iii) a stressful life events checklist with four domain-specific subscales: peer, family, personal, and school. Regression analysis indicated an interaction of school-related life events and CAR on VAT and SAT, with greater numbers of school-related events being related to greater VAT and SAT for girls with high CAR, but no association with VAT or SAT for girls with low CAR. Similar to job stress in adults, school-related stress in children may contribute to central adiposity, especially for girls with high CAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie J Donoho
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Oestrogen: an overlooked mediator in the neuropsychopharmacology of treatment response? Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2011; 14:553-66. [PMID: 20860875 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145710000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depression (MD) and anorexia nervosa (AN) often present comorbidly and both share some affective symptoms, despite obvious phenotypic differences. In the illness phase, pathophysiological evidence indicates similar abnormalities in both clinical groups including dysfunction in the serotonin (5-HT) system (of which some abnormalities persist following recovery) and between 60% and 80% of patients in both groups present with significant hyperactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. First-line approach to treatment for MD involves modulation of the 5-HT system using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). For AN, treatment with SSRIs has been shown to be considerably less effective compared to MD. Both illnesses show marked dysregulation in the HPA axis. A consequence of SSRI treatment is a reduction and/or normalization of indices of the HPA axis [i.e. cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)], which is consistent with recovery levels in both clinical groups. Oestrogen (in high doses) has been shown to exert antidepressant effects and positively impact on MD symptoms as a treatment in its own right, or in combination with antidepressants, in women of menopausal age. It is proposed that a combination of SSRIs and oestrogen therapy may facilitate physiological normalization in MD in women of non-menopausal age and in AN. Preliminary evidence suggests oestrogen treatment alone is of some benefit to patients and it is proposed that a combination of SSRI and oestrogen will precipitate and potentially accelerate symptomatic remission. Should this approach be successful, it offers the capacity for improvement over traditional antidepressant use in women diagnosed with MD and a novel strategy for the treatment of AN, a serious clinical illness associated with the highest mortality of any psychiatric condition.
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Lindstedt F, Lonsdorf TB, Schalling M, Kosek E, Ingvar M. Perception of thermal pain and the thermal grill illusion is associated with polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene. PLoS One 2011; 6:e17752. [PMID: 21423614 PMCID: PMC3057988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2010] [Accepted: 02/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim The main aim of this study was to assess if the perception of thermal pain thresholds is associated with genetically inferred levels of expression of the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT). Additionally, the perception of the so-called thermal grill illusion (TGI) was assessed. Forty-four healthy individuals (27 females, 17 males) were selected a-priori based on their 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 (‘tri-allelic 5-HTTLPR’) genotype, with inferred high or low 5-HTT expression. Thresholds for heat- and cold-pain were determined along with the sensory and affective dimensions of the TGI. Results Thresholds to heat- and cold-pain correlated strongly (rho = −0.58, p<0.001). Individuals in the low 5-HTT-expressing group were significantly less sensitive to heat-pain (p = 0.02) and cold-pain (p = 0.03), compared to the high-expressing group. A significant gender-by-genotype interaction also emerged for cold-pain perception (p = 0.02); low 5-HTT-expressing females were less sensitive. The TGI was rated as significantly more unpleasant (affective-motivational dimension) than painful (sensory-discriminatory dimension), (p<0.001). Females in the low 5-HTT expressing group rated the TGI as significantly less unpleasant than high 5-HTT expressing females (p<0.05), with no such differences among men. Conclusion/Significance We demonstrate an association between inferred low 5-HTT expression and elevated thresholds to thermal pain in healthy non-depressed individuals. Despite the fact that reduced 5-HTT expression is a risk factor for chronic pain we found it to be related to hypoalgesia for threshold thermal pain. Low 5-HTT expression is, however, also a risk factor for depression where thermal insensitivity is often seen. Our results may thus contribute to a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of such paradoxical hypoalgesia. The results point to a differential regulation of thermoafferent-information along the neuraxis on the basis of 5-HTT expression and gender. The TGI, suggested to rely on the central integration of thermoafferent-information, may prove a valuable tool in probing the affective-motivational dimension of these putative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Lindstedt
- Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Stockholm Brain Institute, Department of Clinical Neuroscience Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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65
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Carpenter LL, Shattuck TT, Tyrka AR, Geracioti TD, Price LH. Effect of childhood physical abuse on cortisol stress response. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 214:367-75. [PMID: 20838776 PMCID: PMC3580170 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2010] [Accepted: 08/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Abuse and neglect are highly prevalent in children and have enduring neurobiological effects. Stressful early life environments perturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which in turn may predispose to psychiatric disorders in adulthood. However, studies of childhood maltreatment and adult HPA function have not yet rigorously investigated the differential effects of maltreatment subtypes, including physical abuse. OBJECTIVE In this study, we sought to replicate our previous finding that childhood maltreatment was associated with attenuated cortisol responses to stress and determine whether the type of maltreatment was a determinant of the stress response. METHODS Salivary cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was examined in a non-clinical sample of women (n = 110). Subjects had no acute medical problems and were not seeking psychiatric treatment. Effects of five maltreatment types, as measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, on cortisol response to the TSST were investigated. To further examine the significant (p < 0.005) effect of one maltreatment type, women with childhood physical abuse (PA) (n = 20) were compared to those without past PA (n = 90). RESULTS Women reporting childhood PA displayed a significantly blunted cortisol response to the TSST compared with subjects without PA, after controlling for estrogen use, age, other forms of maltreatment, and other potential confounds. There were no differences between PA and control groups with regard to physiological arousal during the stress challenge. CONCLUSIONS In a non-clinical sample of women with minimal or no current psychopathology, physical abuse is associated with a blunted cortisol response to a psychosocial stress task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda L. Carpenter
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Thaddeus T. Shattuck
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Audrey R. Tyrka
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Thomas D. Geracioti
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lawrence H. Price
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, Brown Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906, USA
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Enoch MA. The role of early life stress as a predictor for alcohol and drug dependence. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 214:17-31. [PMID: 20596857 PMCID: PMC3005022 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-1916-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 422] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 06/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Genetic and environmental influences on the development of alcohol and drug dependence are equally important. Exposure to early life stress, that is unfortunately common in the general population, has been shown to predict a wide range of psychopathology, including addiction. OBJECTIVE This review will look at the characteristics of early life stress that may be specific predictors for adolescent and adult alcohol and drug dependence and will focus on studies in humans, non-human primates and rodents. RESULTS Experiencing maltreatment and cumulative stressful life events prior to puberty and particularly in the first few years of life is associated with early onset of problem drinking in adolescence and alcohol and drug dependence in early adulthood. Early life stress can result in permanent neurohormonal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis changes, morphological changes in the brain, and gene expression changes in the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway, all of which are implicated in the development of addiction. However, a large proportion of children who have experienced even severe early life stress do not develop psychopathology indicating that mediating factors such as gene-environment interactions and family and peer relationships are important for resilience. CONCLUSIONS There appears to be a direct pathway from chronic stress exposure in pre-pubertal children via adolescent problem drinking to alcohol and drug dependence in early adulthood. However, this route can be moderated by genetic and environmental factors. The role that gene-environment interactions play in the risk-resilience balance is being increasingly recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Anne Enoch
- NIH/NIAAA/DICBR/LNG, 5625 Fishers Lane, Room 3S32, MSC 9412, Bethesda, MD 20892-9412, USA.
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67
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van Santen A, Vreeburg SA, Van der Does AJW, Spinhoven P, Zitman FG, Penninx BWJH. Psychological traits and the cortisol awakening response: results from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011; 36:240-8. [PMID: 20724080 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2010] [Revised: 06/13/2010] [Accepted: 07/15/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation is often seen in major depression, and is thought to represent a trait vulnerability - rather than merely an illness marker - for depressive disorder and possibly anxiety disorder. Vulnerability traits associated with stress-related disorders might reflect increased sensitivity for the development of psychopathology through an association with HPA axis activity. Few studies have examined the association between psychological trait factors and the cortisol awakening response, with inconsistent results. The present study examined the relationship between multiple psychological trait factors and the cortisol awakening curve, including both the dynamic of the CAR and overall cortisol awakening levels, in a sample of persons without psychopathology, hypothesizing that persons scoring high on vulnerability traits demonstrate an elevated cortisol awakening curve. METHODS From 2981 participants of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), baseline data from 381 controls (aged 18-65) without previous, current and parental depression and anxiety disorders were analyzed. Psychological measures included the Big Five personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness) measured using the NEO-FFI, anxiety sensitivity assessed by the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, cognitive reactivity to sadness (hopelessness, acceptance/coping, aggression, control/perfectionism, risk aversion, and rumination) as measured by the LEIDS-R questionnaire, and mastery, assessed using the Pearlin and Schooler Mastery scale. Salivary cortisol levels were measured at awakening, and 30, 45, and 60 min afterwards. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, high scores of hopelessness reactivity (β=.13, p=.02) were consistently associated with a higher cortisol awakening response. In addition, although inconsistent across analyses, persons scoring higher on extraversion, control/perfectionism reactivity, and mastery tended to show a slightly flatter CAR. No significant associations were found for neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness, anxiety sensitivity, and acceptance/coping, aggression, or risk aversion reactivity. CONCLUSION Of various psychological traits, only hopelessness reactivity, a trait that has been associated with depression and suicidality, is consistently associated with HPA axis dysregulation. Hopelessness reactivity may represent a predisposing vulnerability for the development of a depressive or anxiety disorder, possibly in part mediated by HPA axis activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aafke van Santen
- VU University, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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68
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Lesch KP. When the serotonin transporter gene meets adversity: the contribution of animal models to understanding epigenetic mechanisms in affective disorders and resilience. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2011; 7:251-280. [PMID: 21225411 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2010_109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Although converging epidemiological evidence links exposure to stressful life events with increased risk for affective spectrum disorders, there is extraordinary interindividual variability in vulnerability to adversity. The environmentally moderated penetrance of genetic variation is thought to play a major role in determining who will either develop disease or remain resilient. Research on genetic factors in the aetiology of disorders of emotion regulation has, nevertheless, been complicated by a mysterious discrepancy between high heritability estimates and a scarcity of replicable gene-disorder associations. One explanation for this incongruity is that at least some specific gene effects are conditional on environmental cues, i.e. gene-by-environment interaction (G × E) is present. For example, a remarkable number of studies reported an association of variation in the human serotonin (5-HT) transporter gene (SLC6A4, 5-HTT, SERT) with emotional and cognitive traits as well as increased risk for depression in interaction with psychosocial adversity. The results from investigations in non-human primate and mouse support the occurrence of G × E interaction by showing that variation of 5-HTT function is associated with a vulnerability to adversity across the lifespan leading to unfavourable outcomes resembling various neuropsychiatric disorders. The neural and molecular mechanisms by which environmental adversity in early life increases disease risk in adulthood are not known but may include epigenetic programming of gene expression during development. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and chromatin modification, are dynamic and reversible and may also provide targets for intervention strategies (see Bountra et al., Curr Top Behav Neurosci, 2011). Animal models amenable to genetic manipulation are useful in the identification of molecular mechanisms underlying epigenetic programming by adverse environments and individual differences in resilience to stress. Therefore, deeper insight into the role of epigenetic regulation in the process of neurodevelopmental programmes is likely to result in early diagnosis of affective spectrum disorders and will contribute to the design of innovative treatments targeting neural pathways that foster resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus-Peter Lesch
- Molecular Psychiatry, ADHD Clinical Research Network, Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Fuechsleinstr. 15, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany,
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Bouma E, Riese H, Nederhof E, Ormel J, Oldehinkel A. No replication of genotype effect of 5-HTTLPR on cortisol response to social stress in larger adolescent sample. Biol Psychiatry 2010; 68:e33-4; author reply e35. [PMID: 20970779 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Accepted: 04/09/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Cortisol awakening response and hippocampal volume: vulnerability for major depressive disorder? Biol Psychiatry 2010; 68:847-53. [PMID: 20864090 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Revised: 07/14/2010] [Accepted: 07/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder is associated with dysregulated basal cortisol levels and small hippocampal (HC) volume. However, it is still debated whether these phenomena are a consequence of the illness or whether they may represent a vulnerability marker existing before the illness onset. Here, we aimed to examine this notion of vulnerability by assessing whether abnormalities in basal cortisol secretion and HC volumes are already present in a sample of healthy young adults who showed varying levels of depressive tendencies, but at subclinical levels. METHODS We recruited healthy young men and women from the local university. On the basis of depression scores derived from standard questionnaires, three groups were formed: a control group (n = 27), a subclinical group (n = 23), and a high-risk subclinical group (n = 9). The participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan and collected saliva samples for the assessment of diurnal cortisol levels. RESULTS Both the subclinical and the high-risk subclinical group failed to show a significant increase in cortisol levels after awakening. The high-risk subclinical group also showed a lower area-under-the-curve increase of cortisol levels after awakening compared with control subjects. In addition, this group also had smaller total HC volume compared with control subjects. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this subclinical sample suggest that dysregulated cortisol awakening response and small HC volume may constitute vulnerability factors for major depressive disorder. Further investigations are needed to discern the mechanisms that may underlie these phenomena.
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Oldehinkel AJ, Bouma EMC. Sensitivity to the depressogenic effect of stress and HPA-axis reactivity in adolescence: a review of gender differences. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2010; 35:1757-70. [PMID: 21040743 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Revised: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 10/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is characterized by major biological, psychological, and social challenges, as well as by an increase in depression rates. This review focuses on the association between stressful experiences and depression in adolescence, and the possible role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA-)axis in this link. Adolescent girls have a higher probability to develop depressive symptoms than adolescent boys and preadolescents. Increasing evidence indicates that girls' higher risk of depression is partly brought about by an increased sensitivity for stressful life events, particularly interpersonal stressors, which are highly prevalent in adolescent girls. Genetic risk factors for depression, as well as those for stress sensitivity, are often expressed differently in girls and boys. Also environmental adversity tends to affect girls' stress responses more than those of boys. These gender-specific association patterns have been reported for both sensitivity to stressful life events and HPA-axis responses to social stress. Together, the findings suggest that girls are more malleable than boys in response to internal and external influences. This postulated greater malleability may be adaptive in many circumstances, but also brings along risk, such as an increased probability of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albertine J Oldehinkel
- Interdisciplinary Center for Psychiatric Epidemiology, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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72
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Wankerl M, Zyriax BC, Bondy B, Hinkelmann K, Windler E, Otte C. Serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and diurnal cortisol: A sex by genotype interaction. Biol Psychol 2010; 85:344-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 06/21/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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73
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Vreeburg SA, Hartman CA, Hoogendijk WJG, van Dyck R, Zitman FG, Ormel J, Penninx BWJH. Parental history of depression or anxiety and the cortisol awakening response. Br J Psychiatry 2010; 197:180-5. [PMID: 20807961 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.076869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation, which frequently accompanies depression and anxiety disorders, represents a trait rather than a state factor. AIMS To examine whether HPA axis dysregulation represents a biological vulnerability for these disorders, we compared cortisol levels in unaffected people with and without a parental history of depressive or anxiety disorders. We additionally examined whether possible HPA axis dysregulations resemble those observed in participants with depression or anxiety disorders. METHOD Data were from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. Within the participants without a lifetime diagnoses of depression or anxiety disorders, three groups were distinguished: 180 people without parental history, 114 with self-reported parental history and 74 with CIDI-diagnosed parental history. These groups were additionally compared with people with major depressive disorder or panic disorder with agoraphobia (n = 1262). Salivary cortisol samples were obtained upon awakening, and 30, 45 and 60 min later. RESULTS As compared with unaffected participants without parental history, unaffected individuals with diagnosed parental history of depression or anxiety showed a significantly higher cortisol awakening curve (effect size (d) = 0.50), which was similar to that observed in the participants with depression or anxiety disorders. Unaffected people with self-reported parental history did not differ in awakening cortisol levels from unaffected people without parental history. CONCLUSIONS Unaffected individuals with parental history of depression or anxiety showed a higher cortisol awakening curve, similar to that of the participants with depression or anxiety disorders. This suggests that a higher cortisol awakening curve reflects a trait marker, indicating an underlying biological vulnerability for the development of depressive and anxiety disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A Vreeburg
- Department of Psychiatry and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Fredericks CA, Drabant EM, Edge MD, Tillie JM, Hallmayer J, Ramel W, Kuo JR, Mackey S, Gross JJ, Dhabhar FS. Healthy young women with serotonin transporter SS polymorphism show a pro-inflammatory bias under resting and stress conditions. Brain Behav Immun 2010; 24:350-7. [PMID: 19883751 PMCID: PMC2826575 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2009] [Revised: 10/16/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of functionally relevant biological effects of serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphisms is especially important given the current controversy about the clinical relevance of these polymorphisms. Here we report an intrinsic immunobiological difference between individuals carrying two short (SS) versus long (LL) 5-HTTLPR alleles, that is observed in healthy subjects reporting low exposure to life stress. Given that 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms are thought to influence susceptibility to depression and are associated with robust neurobiological effects, that depression is associated with higher pro-inflammatory and lower anti-inflammatory cytokines, and that acute stressors increase circulating concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, we hypothesized that compared to LL individuals, SS individuals may show a pro-inflammatory bias under resting conditions and/or during stress. 15 LL and 11 SS individuals participated in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Serum IL-6 and IL-10 were quantified at baseline and 30, 60, 90, and 120min after beginning the 20-min stress test. Compared to LL individuals, SS individuals showed a higher IL-6/IL-10 ratio at baseline and during stress. Importantly, this pro-inflammatory bias was observed despite both groups being healthy, reporting similar intensities of stress and negative emotionality during the TSST, and reporting similar low exposures to early and recent life stress. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pro-inflammatory bias/phenotype in individuals carrying the SS genotype of 5-HTTLPR. Thus, healthy SS individuals may be chronically exposed to a pro-inflammatory physiological burden under resting and stress conditions, which could increase their vulnerability to disorders like depression and other diseases that can be facilitated/exacerbated by a chronic pro-inflammatory state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily M. Drabant
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Michael D. Edge
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Jean M. Tillie
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Joachim Hallmayer
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Wiveka Ramel
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Janice R. Kuo
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Sean Mackey
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - James J. Gross
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Firdaus S. Dhabhar
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,Stanford Cancer Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305,Corresponding author: Firdaus S. Dhabhar, Stanford University, 300 Pasteur Drive, MC 5135, Stanford, CA 94305-5135.
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Vinberg M, Mellerup E, Andersen PK, Bennike B, Kessing LV. Variations in 5-HTTLPR: relation to familiar risk of affective disorder, life events, neuroticism and cortisol. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2010; 34:86-91. [PMID: 19822181 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2009.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2009] [Revised: 09/23/2009] [Accepted: 10/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and stressful life events are associated with affective disorders. AIM To investigate whether the distribution of the alleles of the 5-HTTLPR is associated with a genetic predisposition to affective disorder and whether these variations interact with life events in relation to depressive symptoms, neuroticism and salivary cortisol. METHOD In a high-risk population study, healthy monozygotic and dizygotic twins with (high-risk twins) and without (low-risk twins) a co-twin history of affective disorder were identified through nationwide registers. RESULTS When comparing the 81 individuals homozygote for the long allele with the 125 individuals hetero- and homozygote for the short allele no associations between the allele distribution and a genetic predisposition were found. The presence of the short allele of the 5-HTTLPR and the experience of SLE was associated with a higher neuroticism score, but not with depressive symptoms nor awakening or evening salivary cortisol. CONCLUSION A combination of variants in 5-HTTLPR and environmental stress seems to increase neuroticism in healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maj Vinberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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76
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Human hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to acute psychosocial stress in laboratory settings. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2010; 35:91-6. [PMID: 20109491 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 01/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cumulative acute psychosocial stress is thought to promote the development of a range of disorders which suggests that biomarkers for the physiological response may become valuable tools for biomedical research and development. The search for these biomarkers has been aided by the development of a standardised protocol for inducing psychosocial stress that combines social-evaluative threat and uncontrollability, i.e., the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Among other biological markers of acute stress, this test induces significant changes of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA), which is thought to play a pivotal role in the generation of stress-associated pathologies. The HPAA responses show differences between patients and healthy subjects as well as between pathologies. Moreover, gender, age, personality traits, social environment, and genotype can also shape the individual's acute stress response triggered by the TSST. Characterization of the roles and interactions of these factors in generating a dysregulation of the neuroendocrine responses to acute psychosocial stress await longitudinal studies.
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77
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The cortisol awakening response: more than a measure of HPA axis function. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2009; 35:97-103. [PMID: 20026350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 430] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Revised: 11/20/2009] [Accepted: 12/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In most healthy people morning awakening is associated with a burst of cortisol secretion: the cortisol awakening response (CAR). It is argued that the CAR is subject to a range physiological regulatory influences that facilitate this rapid increase in cortisol secretion. Evidence is presented for reduced adrenal sensitivity to rising levels of ACTH in the pre-awakening period, mediated by an extra-pituitary pathway to the adrenal from the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). A role for the hippocampus in this pre-awakening regulation of cortisol secretion is considered. Attainment of consciousness is associated with 'flip-flop' switching of regional brain activation, which, it is argued, initiates a combination of processes: (1) activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis; (2) release of pre-awakening reduced adrenal sensitivity to ACTH; (3) increased post-awakening adrenal sensitivity to ACTH in response to light, mediated by a SCN extra-pituitary pathway. An association between the CAR and the ending of sleep inertia is discussed.
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78
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Dougherty LR, Klein DN, Congdon E, Canli T, Hayden EP. Interaction between 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms on HPA axis reactivity in preschoolers. Biol Psychol 2009; 83:93-100. [PMID: 19914329 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2009] [Revised: 09/29/2009] [Accepted: 10/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study examined whether the interaction between the serotonin transporter promoter region (5-HTTLPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphisms was associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to stress. A community sample of 144 preschool-aged children was genotyped and exposed to stress-inducing laboratory tasks. Salivary cortisol was obtained at four time points during a standardized laboratory assessment before and after stressors involving separation from a parent and frustrating tasks. Children homozygous for the short-5-HTTLPR allele and carrying the Met-BDNF allele evidenced a significantly lower initial level of cortisol, followed by a positive increase in cortisol in response to the laboratory stressors. In contrast, children who were homozygous for the short-5-HTTLPR and the Val-BDNF alleles evidenced a greater decline in cortisol in response to the laboratory stressors. Findings indicated that the BDNF gene moderated the association between 5-HTTLPR and children's biological stress responses, suggesting that epistatic effects play a role in individual differences in stress regulation, and possibly genetic vulnerability to stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea R Dougherty
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, NY, United States.
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79
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Canli T, Ferri J, Duman E. Genetics of emotion regulation. Neuroscience 2009; 164:43-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2008] [Revised: 06/18/2009] [Accepted: 06/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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80
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Koenig JI. Corticotropin-releasing factor, serotonin, and sex: keys to the castle of depressive illness. Endocrinology 2009; 150:3440-2. [PMID: 19622778 PMCID: PMC2717862 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James I Koenig
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA.
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