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Published on: October 10, 2012
The PPM1F gene moderates the association between PTSD and cortical thickness
Danielle R Sullivan1, Filomene G Morrison1, Erika J Wolf1
1National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
Genetic variants in the PPM1F gene influence the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and prefrontal cortex thickness in veterans. Specific PPM1F single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are linked to reduced cortical thickness with higher PTSD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to serotonin signaling and stress response may influence PTSD and cortical thickness.
- The PPM1F gene, a genetic regulator of these pathways, is implicated in stress response and differentially expressed in individuals with comorbid PTSD and depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between PPM1F gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma-exposed veterans.
- To examine how these PPM1F SNPs moderate the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and cortical thickness in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Studied 240 white, non-Hispanic, trauma-exposed veterans.
- Genotyped 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the PPM1F gene.
- Analyzed associations between PPM1F SNPs, PTSD symptom severity, and cortical thickness.
Main Results:
- Six PPM1F SNPs significantly moderated the link between PTSD severity and cortical thickness in specific prefrontal regions (superior frontal, orbitofrontal) and the right pars triangularis.
- Higher PTSD symptom severity correlated with reduced cortical thickness, depending on the individual's genotype for these SNPs.
- A specific SNP (rs9610608) localized this effect to the right superior frontal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a role for PPM1F gene variants in modulating the association between PTSD and prefrontal cortex integrity.
- These results suggest that PPM1F gene variations may impact the neural integrity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the context of PTSD.
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