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CRY2 is associated with depression

Catharina Lavebratt1, Louise K Sjöholm, Pia Soronen

  • 1Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet at Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. catharina.lavebratt@ki.se

Plos One
|March 3, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Circadian gene CRY2 expression is altered in major depressive and bipolar disorders. Genetic variations in CRY2 are linked to winter depression, suggesting its role in mood disorder vulnerability.

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Neurogenetics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Circadian rhythm abnormalities are common in major depressive and bipolar disorders.
  • Circadian clock genes, including CRY2, are potential therapeutic targets.
  • CRY2 regulates the evening oscillator, relevant to mood disorder pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the circadian gene CRY2 in mood disorders.
  • To examine CRY2 mRNA levels in relation to sleep deprivation and depression.
  • To assess the genetic association of CRY2 with depression, particularly winter depression.

Main Methods:

  • Measured diurnal variation of CRY2 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
  • Analyzed CRY2 mRNA levels following total sleep deprivation in healthy individuals and depressed bipolar patients.
  • Performed SNP genotyping of the CRY2 gene in Swedish and Finnish population samples to assess genetic association with depression.

Main Results:

  • Human CRY2 mRNA levels showed marked diurnal variation and increased after sleep deprivation.
  • Depressed bipolar patients exhibited decreased CRY2 mRNA levels with no increase after sleep deprivation.
  • The CRY2 gene was significantly associated with winter depression in both Swedish and Finnish populations.

Conclusions:

  • A CRY2 genetic locus is associated with increased vulnerability to depression.
  • Dysregulation of CRY2 expression is implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders.

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