Abstract
Background: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is involved in the regulation of mood, anxiety and social biology. Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been implicated in anxiety, depression and related stress phenotypes. It is not yet known whether OXTR interacts with other risk factors such as early life trauma to heighten the severity of experienced anxiety and depression. Methods: In this study, we examined genotypes in 653 individuals and tested whether SNP variation in OXTR correlates with severity of features of self-reported experience on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and whether this correlation is enhanced when early life trauma is taken into account. We also assessed the effects of OXTR SNPs on RNA expression levels in two separate brain tissue cohorts totaling 365 samples. Results: A significant effect of OXTR genotype on DASS anxiety, stress and depression scores was found and ELS events, in combination with several different OXTR SNPs, were significantly associated with differences in DASS scores with one SNP (rs139832701) showing significant association or a trend towards association for all three measures. Several OXTR SNPs were correlated with alterations in OXTR RNA expression and rs3831817 replicated across both sets of tissues. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that the oxytocin system plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 93-100 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Psychiatric Research |
| Volume | 59 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Anxiety
- DASS scale
- Depression
- Oxytocin
- RNA expression
- SNP
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Variation in the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with increased risk for anxiety, stress and depression in individuals with a history of exposure to early life stress. / Myers, Amanda J; Williams, Leanne; Gatt, Justine M.; McAuley-Clark, Erica Z.; Dobson-Stone, Carol; Schofield, Peter R.; Nemeroff, Charles.
In: Journal of Psychiatric Research, Vol. 59, 01.01.2014, p. 93-100.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Variation in the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with increased risk for anxiety, stress and depression in individuals with a history of exposure to early life stress
AU - Myers, Amanda J
AU - Williams, Leanne
AU - Gatt, Justine M.
AU - McAuley-Clark, Erica Z.
AU - Dobson-Stone, Carol
AU - Schofield, Peter R.
AU - Nemeroff, Charles
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Background: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is involved in the regulation of mood, anxiety and social biology. Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been implicated in anxiety, depression and related stress phenotypes. It is not yet known whether OXTR interacts with other risk factors such as early life trauma to heighten the severity of experienced anxiety and depression. Methods: In this study, we examined genotypes in 653 individuals and tested whether SNP variation in OXTR correlates with severity of features of self-reported experience on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and whether this correlation is enhanced when early life trauma is taken into account. We also assessed the effects of OXTR SNPs on RNA expression levels in two separate brain tissue cohorts totaling 365 samples. Results: A significant effect of OXTR genotype on DASS anxiety, stress and depression scores was found and ELS events, in combination with several different OXTR SNPs, were significantly associated with differences in DASS scores with one SNP (rs139832701) showing significant association or a trend towards association for all three measures. Several OXTR SNPs were correlated with alterations in OXTR RNA expression and rs3831817 replicated across both sets of tissues. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that the oxytocin system plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders.
AB - Background: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is involved in the regulation of mood, anxiety and social biology. Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has been implicated in anxiety, depression and related stress phenotypes. It is not yet known whether OXTR interacts with other risk factors such as early life trauma to heighten the severity of experienced anxiety and depression. Methods: In this study, we examined genotypes in 653 individuals and tested whether SNP variation in OXTR correlates with severity of features of self-reported experience on the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS), and whether this correlation is enhanced when early life trauma is taken into account. We also assessed the effects of OXTR SNPs on RNA expression levels in two separate brain tissue cohorts totaling 365 samples. Results: A significant effect of OXTR genotype on DASS anxiety, stress and depression scores was found and ELS events, in combination with several different OXTR SNPs, were significantly associated with differences in DASS scores with one SNP (rs139832701) showing significant association or a trend towards association for all three measures. Several OXTR SNPs were correlated with alterations in OXTR RNA expression and rs3831817 replicated across both sets of tissues. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that the oxytocin system plays a role in the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders.
KW - Anxiety
KW - DASS scale
KW - Depression
KW - Oxytocin
KW - RNA expression
KW - SNP
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908337827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84908337827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.08.021
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.08.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 25262417
AN - SCOPUS:84908337827
VL - 59
SP - 93
EP - 100
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
SN - 0022-3956
ER -