Catechol-O-Methyltransferase moderates effect of stress mindset on affect and cognition

Genetic Variation and Stroke Recovery: The STRONG Study

BACKGROUND

Genetic association studies can reveal biology and treatment targets but have received limited attention for stroke recovery. STRONG (Stroke, Stress, Rehabilitation, and Genetics) was a prospective, longitudinal (1-year), genetic study in adults with stroke at 28 US stroke centers. The primary aim was to examine the association that candidate genetic variants have with (1) motor/functional outcomes and (2) stress-related outcomes.

METHODS

For motor/functional end points, 3 candidate gene variants (ApoE ε4, BDNF [brain-derived neurotrophic factor], and a dopamine polygenic score) were analyzed for associations with change in grip strength (3 months-baseline), function (3-month Stroke Impact Scale-Activities of Daily Living), mood (3-month Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and cognition (12-month telephone-Montreal Cognitive Assessment). For stress-related outcomes, 7 variants (serotonin transporter gene-linked promoter region, ACE [angiotensin-converting enzyme], oxytocin receptor, FKBP5 [FKBP prolyl isomerase 5], FAAH [fatty acid amide hydrolase], BDNF, and COMT [catechol-O-methyltransferase]) were assessed for associations with posttraumatic stress disorder ([PTSD]; PTSD Primary Care Scale) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8) at 6 and 12 months; stress-related genes were examined as a function of poststroke stress level. Statistical models (linear, negative binomial, or Poisson regression) were based on response variable distribution; all included stroke severity, age, sex, and ancestry as covariates. Stroke subtype was explored secondarily. Data were Holm-Bonferroni corrected. A secondary replication analysis tested whether the rs1842681 polymorphism (identified in the GISCOME study [Genetics of Ischaemic Stroke Functional Outcome]) was related to 3-month modified Rankin Scale score in STRONG.

RESULTS

The 763 enrollees were 63.1±14.9 (mean±SD) years of age, with a median initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 4 (interquartile range, 2-9); outcome data were available in n=515 at 3 months, n=500 at 6 months, and n=489 at 12 months. At 1 year poststroke, the rs6265 (BDNF) variant was associated with poorer cognition (0.9-point lower telephone-Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, P=1×10-5). For stress-related outcomes, rs4291 (ACE) and rs324420 (FAAH) were risk factors linking increased poststroke stress with higher 1-year depression and PTSD symptoms (P<0.05), while rs4680 (COMT) linked poststroke stress with lower 1-year depression and PTSD. Findings were unchanged when considering stroke subtype. STRONG replicated GISCOME: rs1842681 was associated with lower 3-month modified Rankin Scale score (P=3.2×10-5).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified genetic associations with cognitive function, depression, and PTSD 1 year poststroke. Genetic susceptibility to PTSD and depressive symptoms varied according to the amount of poststroke stress, underscoring the critical role of lived experiences in recovery. Together, the results suggest that genetic association studies provide insights into the biology of stroke recovery in humans.

Effectiveness of stress arousal reappraisal and stress-is-enhancing mindset interventions on task performance outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Stress arousal reappraisal (SAR) and stress-is-enhancing (SIE) mindset interventions aim to promote a more adaptive stress response by educating individuals about the functionality of stress. As part of this framework, an adaptive stress response is coupled with improved performance on stressful tasks. The goal of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions on task performance. The literature search yielded 44 effect sizes, and a random-effects model with Knapp-Hartung adjustment was used to pool them. The results revealed an overall small significant improvement in task performance (d = 0.23, p < 0.001). The effect size was significantly larger for mixed interventions (i.e., SAR/SIE mindset instructions combined with additional content, k = 5, d = 0.45, p = 0.004) than SAR-only interventions (k = 33, d = 0.22, p < 0.001) and SIE mindset-only interventions (k = 6, d = 0.18, p = 0.22) and tended to be larger for public performance tasks than cognitive written tasks (k = 14, d = 0.34, p < 0.001 vs. k = 30, d = 0.20, p = 0.002). Although SAR and SIE mindset interventions are not "silver bullets", they offer a promising cost-effective low-threshold approach to improve performance across various domains.

Genetic variants associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms in patients with gynecologic cancer

OBJECTIVE

Patients with cancer experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more commonly than the general population. The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with gynecologic cancer.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study recruited 181 gynecologic cancer survivors receiving care at the University of Minnesota between 2017 and 2020 who completed PTSD DSM-V surveys to self-report their symptoms of PTSD and provided saliva samples. DNA samples were genotyped for 11 SNPs in 9 genes involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic, and opioidergic systems previously associated with risk of PTSD in populations without cancer.

RESULTS

Most participants had either ovarian (42.5%) or endometrial (46.4%) cancer; fewer had cervical (7.7%) or vaginal/vulvar (3.3%) cancer. Two SNPS were identified as statistically significantly associated with higher PTSD scores: rs622337 in HTR2A and rs510769 in OPRM1.

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic variation likely plays a role in development of PTSD. HTR2A is involved in the serotonin pathway, and OPRM1 is involved in the opioid receptor pathway. This information can be used by oncologic providers to identify patients at greater risk of developing PTSD and may facilitate referral to appropriate consultants and resources early in their treatment.

A stress mindset manipulation can affect speakers' articulation rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Mindsets about stress can be altered so that people interpret stress as either a positive or negative force. We exposed participants to a stress mindset intervention to test its effects on a challenging speech production task.

DESIGN AND METHOD

Participants (N = 60) were randomly assigned to a stress mindset condition. In the stress-is-enhancing (SIE) condition, they viewed a brief video that characterized stress as a positive force that benefits performance. In the stress-is-debilitating (SID) condition, the video characterized stress as a negative force that should be avoided. Each participant completed a self-report measure of stress mindset, performed a psychological stressor task, and then repeatedly produced tongue twisters aloud. Speech errors and articulation time were scored for the production task.

RESULTS

The manipulation check confirmed that stress mindsets were altered after viewing the videos. Participants in the SIE condition articulated the phrases more quickly than those in the SID condition without an accompanying increase in errors.

CONCLUSIONS

A stress mindset manipulation affected speech production. This finding indicates that one way to mitigate the negative effects of stress on speech production is to instantiate beliefs that stress is a positive force that can enhance performance.

Psychometric properties and factorial invariance of the Farsi version of the Stress Mindset Measure

The Stress Mindset Measure consists of eight items to assess whether individuals hold a stress-is-enhancing or a stress-is-debilitating mindset. The current research is a cross-sectional study and aimed to investigate the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and construct and convergent validity of the Farsi version of the Stress Mindset Measure (SMM). Prior to conducting the study, forward and backward translations of the SMM were performed. Using the convenience sampling method, we recruited 400 none-clinical sample (161 men and 239 women; aged 18 to 69). We utilized SPSS version 24, Amos, and Mplus 7.1 software to analyze the data. Results revealed satisfactory reliability and validity indexes for the Farsi version of the Stress Mindset Measure. The internal consistency of the Farsi version of the Stress Mindset Measure was in the excellent range (α = 0.87). The results of the confirmatory factorial analysis revealed two factors of the Stress Mindset Measure instead of the single factor suggested by the previous studies (fitness indices for the two-factor model were RMSEA = 0.78, CFI = 0.96, and TLI = 0.94). Moreover, we found that the stress-is-debilitating mindset is positively associated with stress (r = 0.233), depression (r = 0.163), and anxiety (r = 0.197). However, this mindset has been found to have no significant relationship with cognitive strategies of emotion regulation and life satisfaction. Also, findings showed no significant correlation between the stress-is-enhancing mindsets and the other variables. The results of this study suggest that the Farsi SMM has proper psychometric properties to assess stress mindsets.

Experiences of ethnic discrimination and COMT rs4680 polymorphism are associated with depressive symptoms in Latinx adults at risk for cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Ethnic discrimination is frequently experienced among U.S. Latinx communities, and is linked to CVD risk factors, such as depression. Genetic variants may influence this relationship.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to examine associations between experiences of discrimination, rs4680 genotype, and depressive symptoms in Latinx adults.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 124 Latinx adults with two or more CVD risk factors, and conducted hierarchical linear regression, adjusting for sex, age, income, education, and acculturation.

RESULTS

Participants were predominately female (74.2%) and aged 40.2 ± 9.3 years. More experiences of discrimination were associated with higher depressive symptoms (p = 0.041). Those with Met-Met-and Val-Met-genotypes had increased depressive symptoms than those with Val-Val-genotype (p = 0.049). Rs4680 was not a moderator.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest discrimination and rs4680 genotype are associated with depressive symptoms in Latinx adults, which may increase CVD risk. Further research is needed to better understand biological mechanisms of these relationships.

Association of COMT Polymorphisms with Multiple Physical Activity-Related Injuries among University Students in China

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a candidate gene to provide promising evidence of psychiatric disorders, but there is a knowledge gap between the genetic factor and multiple physical activity-related injuries (PARIs). The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of COMT to the risk of PARIs among university students in the Chinese Han population. We can further search for the intrinsic risk factors for the occurrence of multiple physical activity injuries and provide a scientific basis for early screening and precise intervention for the high-risk group of college students with multiple PARIs. A 1:1 matched case-control study of 61 PARIs cases and 61 healthy controls were carried out. DNA samples of the participants were isolated from saliva and genotyped on eight SNPs of the COMT gene (rs9265, rs4680, rs6269, rs4818, rs4633, rs165655, rs165656, and rs165722) using the MALDI-TOF MS method. We found that rs6269 and rs4818 were significantly associated with PARIs, and rs6269-GG and rs4818-GG contributed to the reduced risk of PARIs. Further haplotype analysis showed a four-marker C-G-C-G haplotype (rs165722-rs6269-rs4633-rs4818) acted with a protective role in the development of PARIs (p = 0.037; OR: 0.474, 95% CI: 0.269 to 0.834). However, the interactions between club membership and rs6269 or rs4818 would significantly increase the risk of PARIs (both p < 0.001, OR: 5.121 and 4.977, respectively). This is the first study to find the contribution of COMT to PARIs occurrence, suggesting that the COMT polymorphisms and the gene-environment interactions may alter the risk of PARIs.

Insights into S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase related diseases and genetic polymorphisms

Enzymatic methylation catalyzed by methyltransferases has a significant impact on many human biochemical reactions. As the second most ubiquitous cofactor in humans, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM or AdoMet) serves as a methyl donor for SAM-dependent methyltransferases (MTases), which transfer a methyl group to a nucleophilic acceptor such as O, As, N, S, or C as the byproduct. SAM-dependent methyltransferases can be grouped into different types based on the substrates. Here we systematically reviewed eight types of methyltransferases associated with human diseases. Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT), As(III) S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase (AS3MT), indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (INMT), phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT), nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and DNA methyltansferase (DNMT) are classic SAM-dependent MTases. Correlations between genotypes and disease susceptibility can be partially explained by genetic polymorphisms. The physiological function, substrate specificity, genetic variants and disease susceptibility associated with these eight SAM-dependent methyltransferases are discussed in this review.

Leadership Style, Headache, and Neck Pain: The Moderating Role of the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Genotype

OBJECTIVE

Leadership styles can influence subordinates' health. We investigated how the gene encoding the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme (ie, COMT rs4680 Val158Met) influenced effects of abusive supervision and transformational leadership on subordinates' headache and neck pain.

METHODS

Multiple group structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test associations of leadership with subordinates' pain 6 months after in a representative sample of the Norwegian working population (n = 996). Genotyping was performed by TaqMan technology.

RESULTS

Abusive supervision was associated with increased risk, and transformational leadership with decreased risk, of headache and neck pain. Both leadership styles exhibited more pronounced effects in individuals with the Met/Met genotype.

CONCLUSION

Met/Met employees were relatively vulnerable to adversity, but also relatively responsive to constructive leadership. Many workers may benefit more from constructive leadership than population-averaged associations might suggest.

Pharmacodynamic Gene Testing in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder with a complex neurobehavioral phenotype associated with considerable psychiatric co-morbidity. This clinical case series, for the first time, describes the distribution and frequency of polymorphisms of pharmacodynamic genes (serotonin transporter, serotonin 2A and 2C receptors, catechol-o-methyltransferase, adrenergic receptor 2A, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, and human leucocytic antigens) across the two major molecular classes of PWS in a cohort of 33 referred patients who met medical criteria for testing. When results were pooled across PWS genetic subtypes, genotypic and allelic frequencies did not differ from normative population data. However, when the genetic subtype of PWS was examined, there were differences observed across all genes tested that may affect response to psychotropic medication. Due to small sample size, no statistical significance was found, but results suggest that pharmacodynamic gene testing should be considered before initiating pharmacotherapy in PWS. Larger scale studies are warranted.

Historical Controls in Randomized Clinical Trials: Opportunities and Challenges

Randomized control trials (RCTs) with placebo are the gold standard for determining efficacy of novel pharmaceutical treatments. Since their inception, over 75 years ago, researchers have amassed a large body of underutilized data on outcomes in the placebo control arms of these trials. Although rare disease indications have used these historical placebo data as synthetic controls to reduce burden on patients and accelerate drug discovery, broad use of historical controls is in its infancy. Large-scale historical placebo data could be leveraged to benefit both drug developers and patients if warehoused and made more available to guide trial design and analysis. Here, we examine challenges in utilizing historical controls related to heterogeneity in trial design, outcome ascertainment, patient characteristics, and unmeasured pharmacogenomic effects. We then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current approaches and propose a path forward to broader use of historical controls in RCTs.

A Scoping Review of Stress Beliefs: Literature Integration, Measurement Issues, and Theoretical Concerns

BACKGROUND

Individual stress beliefs are associated with stress-related behavioral responses and health consequences. The Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation may help in understanding the role of stress beliefs in these behavioral responses and consequences.

PURPOSE

To synthesize empirical studies exploring the relationship between stress beliefs and stress-related behavioral responses and health consequences using the Common-Sense Model as a guiding framework.

METHODS

Peer-reviewed journal articles on stress beliefs in PsycArticles, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Sociological Abstracts were included if they were in English, reported on adult humans. Nineteen of the 1,972 unique articles reporting on 24 studies met inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed with existing reporting criteria.

RESULTS

Four of the five Common-Sense Model representations were included across the review studies, namely Identity, Cause, Consequences, and Control. Consequences and Control-related stress beliefs are associated with stress-based health and behavioral outcomes. One study explored Identity-related stress beliefs with health outcomes, reporting no relationship. No study assessed the relationship between Cause-related stress beliefs and behaviors or health outcomes. No study has explored any aspect of Timeline-related stress beliefs. Study quality ranged from very low to very high.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence exploring stress-related beliefs and behaviors and health outcomes. According to the Common-Sense Model, the Timeline representations remains to be investigated in the stress context, and Identity and Cause are under-researched. This review highlights future directions for stress beliefs research.

Systems pharmacogenomics - gene, disease, drug and placebo interactions: a case study in COMT

Disease, drugs and the placebos used as comparators are inextricably linked in the methodology of the double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Nonetheless, pharmacogenomics, the study of how individuals respond to drugs based on genetic substrate, focuses primarily on the link between genes and drugs, while the link between genes and disease is often overlooked and the link between genes and placebos is largely ignored. Herein, we use the example of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase to examine the hypothesis that genes can function as pharmacogenomic hubs across system-wide regulatory processes that, if perturbed in andomized controlled trials, can have primary and combinatorial effects on drug and placebo responses.