Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
09:29
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Published on: January 9, 2015
Association study between functional polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha gene and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Carolina Cappi1, Renan Kawano Muniz, Aline Santos Sampaio
1Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|February 8, 2012
Summary
Genetic variations in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFA) gene are linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Specifically, the rs361525 polymorphism
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric condition with an unclear cause.
- Emerging evidence suggests immune system involvement in OCD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFA) gene and OCD.
- To explore the role of immune system dysregulation in the development of OCD.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of two TNFA promoter polymorphisms (rs1800795 and rs361525) in 183 OCD patients and 249 healthy controls.
- Statistical analysis using PLINK software for allelic association tests.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between the A allele of the TNFA rs361525 polymorphism and OCD subjects (p=0.007).
- No significant association was observed for the rs1800795 polymorphism.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that the immune system plays a role in OCD pathogenesis.
- Genetic variations in inflammatory cytokine genes, like TNFA, may serve as biomarkers for OCD.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
01:29Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Genetic variations significantly influence drug response through pharmacokinetics, receptor interactions, and biologic milieu modifications. Pharmacokinetic alterations impact drug metabolism and clearance, affecting efficacy and toxicity. Variants in drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as CYP2C9 and CYP2C19, alter drug activation and elimination. For example, CYP2C9 loss-of-function variants require lower warfarin doses to prevent excessive bleeding, while CYP2C19 variants reduce clopidogrel...
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...