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Updated: May 17, 2026

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
Published on: November 3, 2010
A possible association between panic disorder and a polymorphism in the preproghrelingene
Caroline Hansson1, Kristina Annerbrink, Staffan Nilsson
1Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, SE-415 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. caroline.hansson@gu.se
Genetic variations in the preproghrelin gene may influence panic disorder risk. Specifically, the rs4684677 polymorphism shows a significant association with this anxiety disorder.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Panic disorder is a severe anxiety disorder with intense fear and somatic symptoms.
- The preproghrelin gene produces ghrelin and obestatin, peptides linked to anxiety-like behaviors in rodents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between preproghrelin gene polymorphisms and panic disorder in humans.
- To determine if specific genetic variations increase susceptibility to panic disorder.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of three missense mutations in the preproghrelin gene.
- Study included 215 patients with panic disorder and 451 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- The A allele of the rs4684677 polymorphism was significantly associated with panic disorder.
- No significant associations were found for the other two polymorphisms studied.
Conclusions:
- The rs4684677 (Gln90Leu) polymorphism in the preproghrelin gene may be linked to an increased risk of panic disorder.
- Further validation in larger panic disorder cohorts is recommended to confirm these genetic associations.
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