CACNA1C polymorphism and brain cortical structure in bipolar disorder

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The CACNA1C gene, encoding the 1C subunit of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, is associated with psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder.
• Previous studies highlight CACNA1C's role in neuronal function and brain development, but its link to cortical thickness in bipolar disorder remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the CACNA1C gene polymorphism rs1006737 and regional cortical thickness in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Main Methods:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure cortical thickness in 68 brain regions.
• Eighty-seven patients with bipolar disorder were genotyped for the CACNA1C single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1006737.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between the CACNA1C rs1006737 polymorphism and the mean cortical thickness of several brain regions.
• Specifically, alterations in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex and rostral anterior cingulate cortex, among other frontal and parietal areas, were observed.

Conclusions:

• The CACNA1C rs1006737 polymorphism is associated with cortical thickness in brain areas relevant to bipolar disorder pathophysiology.
• These findings suggest a potential neurobiological link between this CACNA1C variant and the structural brain changes seen in bipolar disorder.