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Early adversity as the prototype gene × environment interaction in mental disorders?
Jade Martins1, Natan Yusupov2, Elisabeth B Binder3
1Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|March 10, 2022
Summary
Childhood adversity (CA) interacts with genetic factors to influence mental disorder risk. Understanding these gene-environment interactions (GxE) is crucial for psychiatric research and developing targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Childhood adversity (CA) is a significant stressor linked to mental disorders.
- Gene-environment interactions (GxE) are increasingly recognized as critical in disease etiology.
- The GxE paradigm offers a framework for understanding complex trait development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the gene by environment (GxE) paradigm in psychiatric research.
- To discuss findings supporting gene-childhood adversity (GxCA) interactions.
- To explore epigenetic mechanisms, such as FKBP5 x CA, in GxE effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on GxE and GxCA interactions.
- Analysis of candidate gene, polygenic, and genome-wide association studies.
- Examination of epigenetic mechanisms, focusing on FKBP5 x CA studies.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports GxCA interactions across various genetic approaches.
- Epigenetic mechanisms, like FKBP5 methylation, can mediate GxE effects.
- Strengths and limitations of different GxE study designs are discussed.
Conclusions:
- GxE studies are valuable for psychiatric research.
- Further large-scale, deep-phenotyped, longitudinal GxE studies are needed.
- Understanding GxE effects across developmental stages is essential.
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