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Accepted VersionCC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms and post-traumatic stress disorder
Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol.30(3), pp.297-306
2005
PMID: 15511603
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is reported in some studies to be associated with increased glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity. Two common glucocorticoid receptor (GR) polymorphisms (N363S and BclI) appear to contribute to the population variance in GC sensitivity. There is some evidence that there may be a genetic predisposition to PTSD. Hence we studied 118 Vietnam war veterans with PTSD for (i) GR polymorphisms, particularly the N363S and the BclI polymorphisms which are thought to be GC sensitising, and (ii) two measures of GC sensitivity, the low-dose 0.25 mg dexamethasone suppression test (LD-DST) and the dermal vasoconstrictor assay (DVVA). The DST and GR polymorphisms were also performed in 42 combat exposed Vietnam war veterans without PTSD.
Basal plasma cortisol levels were not significantly different in PTSD (399.5±19.2 nmol/L, N=75) and controls (348.6±23.0 nmol/L, N=33) and the LD-DST resulted in similar cortisol suppression in both groups (45.6±3.2 vs. 40.8±4.1%). The cortisol suppression in PTSD patients does not correlate with Clinician Administered PTSD Scores (CAPS), however there was a significant association between the BclI GG genotype and low basal cortisol levels in PTSD (P=0.048). The response to the DVVA was similar to controls (945±122, N=106 vs. 730±236, N=28, P=0.42). PTSD patients with the GG genotype, however, tended to be more responsive to DVVA and in this group the DVVA correlated with higher CAPS scores. The only exon 2 GR polymorphisms detected were the R23K and N363S. Heterozygosity for the N363S variant in PTSD, at 5.1% was not more prevalent than in other population studies of the N363S polymorphism in Caucasians (6.0–14.8%). The GG genotype of the BclI polymorphism found to be associated with increased GC sensitivity in many studies showed a tendency towards increased response with DVVA and correlated with higher CAPS scores.
In conclusion, the N363S and BclI GR polymorphisms were not more frequent in PTSD patients than controls and reported population frequencies. Our PTSD group did not display GC hypersensitivity, as measured by the LD-DST and DVVA. In a subset of PTSD patients with the BclI GG genotype, CAPS scores and basal cortisol levels were negatively correlated.
Details
- Title
- Glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms and post-traumatic stress disorder
- Authors
- Anthony W Bachmann (Author) - The University of QueenslandTeresa L Sedgley (Author) - The University of QueenslandRichard V Jackson (Author) - Logan HospitalJohn N Gibson (Author) - Greenslopes Private HospitalRoss Young (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyDavid J Torpy (Author) - Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Publication details
- Psychoneuroendocrinology, Vol.30(3), pp.297-306
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Date published
- 2005
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2004.08.006
- ISSN
- 1873-3360; 0306-4530
- PMID
- 15511603
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2005. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99550996302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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