Association between EHD3 gene and the cognitive function of patients with major depressive disorder

To analyze the potential association between the EHD3 gene and the cognitive function of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

A total of 47 MDD patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. After their cognitive functions were analyzed, the scores of the MDD patients were used as the quantitative traits; by using the quantitative trait module in the UNPHASED software, we analyzed the potential association of the cognitive traits with the EHD3 gene.

The cognitive scores (WAIS-RC and WMS-R) of MDD patients were significantly lower than those of controls (P<0.05). The rs3769621 allele and genotype of EHD3 gene were significantly associated with the raw score and scaled score of WAIS-RC (Χ(2)=10.561, P=0.001; Χ(2)=7.922, P=0.019; Χ(2)=12.627, P=0.00038; Χ(2)=11.775, P=0.0027)and WMS-R (Χ(2)=8.762, P=0.003; Χ(2)=17.399, P=0.00016; Χ(2)=10.356, P=0.001; Χ(2)=14.958, P=0.00056). Such associations remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction.

The EHD3 gene may be associated with the endophenotype of cognitive function in MDD patients.