Association of NOS3 rs1799983 Polymorphism with Cognitive Function in Patients with First Episode Depression

Global aging has led to a steady rise in the number of older adults suffering from the first-episode depression with cognitive impairment (FEDCI), which imposes a huge medical and financial burden on patients and their families. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of the NOS3 rs1799983 polymorphism on the FEDCI.

A total of 224 first-episode depression (FED) and 295 FEDCI patients were included in the study, whose serum levels of NOS3 and inflammatory factors were detected by RT-qPCR. The TaqMan probe method was used to detect the rs1799983 genotype distribution. GDS-15 and HAMD-17 were used to detect the level of depression, and MMSE was used to detect cognitive impairment. Chi-square analysis was used to detect the correlation between clinical characteristics and NOS3 expression. Risk factors for FEDCI were analyzed by logistic regression.

The NOS3 expression decreased, and TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 expression increased in the FEDCI group, and these two factors' expression was negatively correlated. The MMSE score was positively correlated with the NOS3 expression. The TT genotype and T gene frequency in the distribution of FEDCI patients accounted for a high percentage, with the TT genotype being the causative genotype. Education, GDS-15, HAMD-17, and MMSE are correlated with the NOS3 expression. MMSE, NOS3 expression, and the rs1799983 TT genotype were risk factors of FEDCI.

The NOS3 expression was decreased in FEDCI, and the rs1799983 TT genotype was pathogenic. The NOS3 rs1799983 polymorphism in FEDCI provided a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target.