Abstract
Background
Heterotrimeric G proteins play a pivotal role in the intracellular transduction of
many transmitter–receptor interactions. Alterations in signal transduction and in
G protein concentrations have been reported in seasonal and nonseasonal affective
disorder. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C825T) in the G protein β3-subunit gene
has been shown to influence intracellular response to G protein–coupled stimuli, and
the T-allele of this polymorphism has been associated with hypertension and major
depression.
Methods
We genotyped deoxyribonucleic acid from peripheral mononuclear cells of 172 patients
with seasonal affective disorder, winter type (SAD), and 143 healthy control subjects.
Results
Patients with SAD were significantly more likely to be either homo- or heterozygous
for the Gβ3 T-allele when compared with healthy control subjects (p = .001), and they displayed a higher frequency of the Gβ3 C825T T-allele (p = .021). The polymorphism was not associated with seasonality, which is the tendency
to experience variations in mood and behavior with changing of the seasons.
Conclusions
The Gβ3 C825T polymorphism was associated with SAD in our study sample. This finding strengthens
the evidence for the involvement of G protein–coupled signal transduction in the pathogenesis
of affective disorder.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 14,
2003
Received in revised form:
December 15,
2002
Received in revised form:
December 15,
2002
Received:
March 25,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
