MK4MDD

Genetic/Epigenetic Locus Search Cross Data Search

Study Report

Reference

Citation	Frodl, 2008 PubMed
Full Info	Frodl, T., Koutsouleris, N., Bottlender, R., Born, C., Jager, M., Morgenthaler, M., Scheuerecker, J., Zill, P., Baghai, T., Schule, C. et al. (2008) Reduced gray matter brain volumes are associated with variants of the serotonin transporter gene in major depression. Mol Psychiatry, 13, 1093-1101.

Study

Hypothesis or Background	The serotonergic system is involved in the pathophysiology of major depression as well as in the early central nervous system development and adult neuroplasticity.
Sample Information	77 patients with major depression and 77 healthy controls
Method Detail	The aim of the study was to examine in 77 patients with major depression and 77 healthy controls the association between the triallelic polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and gray matter (GM) brain volumes measured with 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry were estimated on magnetic resonance images and genotyping was performed.
Method Keywords	genotyping; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Result	We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM volumes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior gyrus cinguli, left amygdala as well as right hippocampus, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression. Healthy subjects carrying the S- or L(G)-allele have smaller GM volumes than those with the L(A)-allele, indicating that 5-HTTLPR contributes to the development of brain structures.
Conclusions	Patients with depression show reduced GM volumes, particularly when they are homozygous for the L(A)-allele, suggesting that these patients are more vulnerable for morphological changes during depressive episodes.

Relationships reported by Frodl, 2008

Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper)	Component A Type	Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper)	Component B Type	Statistical Result	Relationship Description	Result Category (Positive/Negative))
Amygdala (amygdala)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR)	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM volumes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior gyrus cinguli, left amygdala as well as right hippocampus, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression.	Positive
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR)	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM volumes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior gyrus cinguli, left amygdala as well as right hippocampus, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression.	Positive
Hippocampus (hippocampus)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR)	gene		Patients with the La/La genotype had significantly smaller hippocampal gray and white matter than La/La controls. Moreover, within the patient group the La/La homozygous genotype had significantly smaller hippocampal white matter volumes than the La/(Lg + S) or (Lg + S)/(Lg + S) genotype.	Positive
left anterior cingulate (left anterior gyrus cinguli)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR)	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM volumes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left anterior gyrus cinguli, left amygdala as well as right hippocampus, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression.	Positive
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR))	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM (gray matter) volumes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression. Healthy subjects carrying the S- or L(G)-allele have smaller GM volumes than those with the L(A)-allele	Positive
right hippocampus (right hippocampus)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR))	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM (gray matter) volumes of the right hippocampus, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression. Healthy subjects carrying the S- or L(G)-allele have smaller GM volumes than those with the L(A)-allele	Positive
left anterior cingulate (left anterior gyrus cinguli)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR))	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM (gray matter) volumes of the left anterior gyrus cinguli, whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression. Healthy subjects carrying the S- or L(G)-allele have smaller GM volumes than those with the L(A)-allele	Positive
Left amygdala (left amygdala)	brain morphology and function	SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR))	gene		We found that healthy controls have a strong association between the 5-HTTLPR and GM (gray matter) volumes of the left amygdala , whereas there is no such association in patients with major depression. Healthy subjects carrying the S- or L(G)-allele have smaller GM volumes than those with the L(A)-allele	Positive