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Procyshyn TL, Leclerc Bédard LA, Crespi BJ, Bartz JA. CD38 genetic variation is associated with increased personal distress to an emotional stimulus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2571. [PMID: 38297097 PMCID: PMC10831108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53081-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in CD38-a putative oxytocin pathway gene-has been linked to higher oxytocin levels, empathy, and sensitive parenting, but also to more negative interpersonal outcomes (e.g., alienation from friends and family, poorer romantic relationship quality). To reconcile these seemingly contradictory findings, we drew upon the idea that CD38 variation may heighten social-emotional sensitivity and, consequently, make individuals prone to negative emotions in distressing interpersonal situations. To test this hypothesis, we performed a secondary analysis of a dataset including participants' (n = 171; 94 females) empathic concern ("sympathetic") and distress-related ("anxious") responses to an emotional video. Distress responses were higher for the CD38 rs3796863 AA/AC group vs. the CC group (p = 0.03, η2 = 0.027); however, there was no significant effect of genotype for empathic concern responses to the video or for indices of trait empathy. These findings provide preliminary evidence that, in the face of an interpersonal stressor, CD38 genetic variation may predict more self-focused, aversive emotional reactions. More broadly, this finding highlights the need to adopt a more nuanced perspective in which the influence of oxytocin system variation (assessed by oxytocin-related genetic variation) should be considered in light of the social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya L Procyshyn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 8AH, UK.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Laury-Ann Leclerc Bédard
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Bernard J Crespi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Bartz
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, H3A 1G1, Canada
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Castellini G, Merola GP, Baccaredda Boy O, Pecoraro V, Bozza B, Cassioli E, Rossi E, Bessi V, Sorbi S, Nacmias B, Ricca V. Emotional dysregulation, alexithymia and neuroticism: a systematic review on the genetic basis of a subset of psychological traits. Psychiatr Genet 2023; 33:79-101. [PMID: 36729042 PMCID: PMC10158611 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Neuroticism, alexithymia and emotion dysregulation are key traits and known risk factors for several psychiatric conditions. In this systematic review, the aim is to evaluate the genetic contribution to these psychological phenotypes. A systematic review of articles found in PubMed was conducted. Search terms included 'genetic', 'GWAS', 'neuroticism', 'alexithymia' and 'emotion dysregulation'. Risk of bias was assessed utilizing the STREGA checklist. Two hundred two papers were selected from existing literature based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these, 27 were genome-wide studies and 175 were genetic association studies. Single gene association studies focused on selected groups of genes, mostly involved in neurotransmission, with conflicting results. GWAS studies on neuroticism, on the other hand, found several relevant and replicated intergenic and intronic loci affecting the expression and regulation of crucial and well-known genes (such as DRD2 and CRHR1). Mutations in genes coding for trascriptional factors were also found to be associated with neuroticism (DCC, XKR6, TCF4, RBFOX1), as well as a noncoding regulatory RNA (LINC00461). On the other hand, little GWAS data are available on alexythima and emotional dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Valentina Bessi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Neurology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Effects of exogenous oxytocin and estradiol on resting-state functional connectivity in women and men. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3113. [PMID: 36813823 PMCID: PMC9947123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29754-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Possible interactions of the neuropeptide oxytocin and the sex hormone estradiol may contribute to previously observed sex-specific effects of oxytocin on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the amygdala and hippocampus. Therefore, we used a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-group functional magnetic resonance imaging study design and measured amygdala and hippocampus rsFC in healthy men (n = 116) and free-cycling women (n = 111), who received estradiol gel (2 mg) or placebo before the intranasal administration of oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo. Our results reveal significant interaction effects of sex and treatments on rsFC of the amygdala and hippocampus in a seed-to-voxel analysis. In men, both oxytocin and estradiol significantly decreased rsFC between the left amygdala and the right and left lingual gyrus, the right calcarine fissure, and the right superior parietal gyrus compared to placebo, while the combined treatment produced a significant increase in rsFC. In women, the single treatments significantly increased the rsFC between the right hippocampus and the left anterior cingulate gyrus, whereas the combined treatment had the opposite effect. Collectively, our study indicates that exogenous oxytocin and estradiol have different region-specific effects on rsFC in women and men and that the combined treatment may produce antagonistic effects.
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Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric disorder, often associated with avoidant temperament. Research studies have implicated a strong genetic architecture of SAD. We have conducted a systematic review on the genetics of SAD and yielded 66 articles. In general, prior research studies have focused on the serotonin transporter, oxytocin receptor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and catechol-O-methyltransferase genes. Mixed and inconsistent results have been reported. Additional approaches and phenotypes have also been investigated, including pharmacogenetics of treatment response, imaging genetics and gene-environment interactions. Future directions warrant further international collaborative efforts, deep-phenotyping of clinical characteristics including consistent and reliable measurement-based symptom severity, and larger sample sizes to ensure sufficient power for stratification due to the heterogeneity of this chronic and often debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Baba
- Neurogenetics Section, Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre
| | - Stefan Kloiber
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gwyneth Zai
- Neurogenetics Section, Molecular Brain Science Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Tereshchenko S, Azanova A, Shubina M, Gorbacheva N. Oxytocin genetic pathway (CD38) and SDQ psychosocial characteristics in adolescent schoolchildren. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:117-123. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2022122111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Krol KM, Namaky N, Monakhov MV, Lai PS, Ebstein R, Grossmann T. Genetic variation in the oxytocin system and its link to social motivation in human infants. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 131:105290. [PMID: 34091402 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Frontal brain asymmetry has been linked to motivational processes in infants and adults, with left lateralization reflecting motivation to approach and right lateralization reflecting motivation to withdraw. We examined the hypothesis that variability in infants' social motivation may be linked to genetic variation in the oxytocin system. Eleven-month-old infants' brain responses and looking preferences to smiling and frowning individuals were assessed in conjunction with a polymorphism in CD38 (rs3796863) linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and reduced oxytocin. Frontal brain asymmetry and looking preferences differed as a function of CD38 genotype. While non-risk A-allele carriers displayed left lateralization to smiling faces (approach) and a heightened looking preference for the individual who smiled, infants with the CC (ASD risk) genotype displayed withdrawal from smiling faces and a preference for the individual who frowned. Findings demonstrate that the oxytocin system is linked to brain and behavioral markers of social motivation in infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Krol
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 485 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany.
| | - Nauder Namaky
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 485 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Mikhail V Monakhov
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, USA; Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Poh San Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Richard Ebstein
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore; China Center for Behavior Economics and Finance, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China
| | - Tobias Grossmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 485 McCormick Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany
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Makhanova A, McNulty JK, Eckel LA, Nikonova L, Bartz JA, Hammock EAD. CD38 is associated with bonding-relevant cognitions and relationship satisfaction over the first 3 years of marriage. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2965. [PMID: 33536489 PMCID: PMC7859203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82307-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Although there are numerous benefits to having a satisfying romantic relationship, maintaining high levels of relationship satisfaction is difficult. Many couples experience declines in relationship satisfaction in the early years of marriage, and such declines predict not only relationship dissolution but also poor mental and physical health. Several recent studies indicate that genetic variation on the CD38 gene (CD38), at the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3796863, is associated with cognitions and behaviors related to pair bonding; we thus leveraged longitudinal data from a sample of newlywed couples (N = 139 genotyped individuals; 71 couples) to examine whether rs3796863 is associated with relationship maintenance processes and, in turn, relationship satisfaction in the early years of marriage. Replicating and extending prior research, we found that individuals with the CC genotype (vs. AC/AA) of rs3796863 reported higher levels of gratitude, trust, and forgiveness and that trust mediated the association between rs3796863 and marital satisfaction. Moreover, the benefits conferred to CC individuals lasted over the first 3 years of marriage. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the link between variation in CD38 rs3796863 and marital functioning over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Makhanova
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA.
| | - James K McNulty
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Lisa A Eckel
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Larissa Nikonova
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Jennifer A Bartz
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Ave, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A D Hammock
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
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Tereshchenko S, Kasparov E, Zobova S, Smolnikova M, Evert L, Semenova N, Zaitseva O, Shubina M, Gorbacheva N, Lapteva L. Oxytocin Pathway Gene ( CD38, OXTR) Variants Are Not Related to Psychosocial Characteristics Defined by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Adolescents: A Field School-Based Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:714093. [PMID: 34434131 PMCID: PMC8380924 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.714093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: CD38 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates oxytocin (OT) production and influences social interactions. The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has been studied intensively regarding its association with human psychosocial functions. Many studies have demonstrated a link between CD38 rs3796863 and OXTR rs53576 polymorphic regions and psychosocial characteristics as well as various psychiatric disorders in adolescents. Some studies, however, have reported null findings. Methods: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief psychopathologic screening tool recommended for detecting psychosocial problems and psychiatric disorders in adolescents. The current field school-based study, conducted among urban Siberian adolescents (n = 298 aged 12-18), explored the SDQ scales in relation to polymorphisms of the CD38 and the OXTR genes (rs3796863 and rs53576, respectively). Results: None of the studied genotypes were associated with the SDQ results for the complete sample with presumed statistical power as 0.80 to detect a medium-size effect (Cramer's V = 0.3) at α = 0.0083. Post-hoc analysis in subgroups showed that OT pathway high activity may cause some negative consequences, such as emotional instability in older (aged 15-18) adolescent boys who are carriers of the rs53576 GG variant. Conclusion: Variations at the CD38 rs3796863 and OXTR rs53576 loci were not associated with psychosocial characteristics of adolescents assessed with the SDQ. In studies with a similar design, we recommend replication with larger samples and greater power to detect small effects, especially in age-sex subgroups of adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Tereshchenko
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Edward Kasparov
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana Zobova
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Marina Smolnikova
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Lidia Evert
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Nadezhda Semenova
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Olga Zaitseva
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Margarita Shubina
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Nina Gorbacheva
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Ludmila Lapteva
- Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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