Interaction of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region and environmental adversity

• Verfasst von: Alexander, Nina Carmen [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Koppe, Georgia [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Interaction of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region and environmental adversity
• Titelzusatz: increased amygdala-hypothalamus connectivity as a potential mechanism linking neural and endocrine hyperreactivity
• Verf.angabe: Nina Alexander, Tim Klucken, Georgia Koppe, Roman Osinsky, Bertram Walter, Dieter Vaitl, Gebhard Sammer, Rudolf Stark, and Juergen Hennig
• E-Jahr: 2012
• Jahr: 12 March 2012
• Umfang: 8 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 23.04.2018
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Biological psychiatry
• Ort Quelle: Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier Science, 1985
• Jahr Quelle: 2012
• Band/Heft Quelle: 72(2012), 1, Seite 49-56
• ISSN Quelle: 1873-2402
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.01.030
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Adult
• Sach-SW: Amygdala
• Sach-SW: Brain Mapping
• Sach-SW: Facial Expression
• Sach-SW: Fear
• Sach-SW: Gene-Environment Interaction
• Sach-SW: Humans
• Sach-SW: Hydrocortisone
• Sach-SW: Hypothalamus
• Sach-SW: Life Change Events
• Sach-SW: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Sach-SW: Male
• Sach-SW: Neural Pathways
• Sach-SW: Polymorphism, Genetic
• Sach-SW: Reference Values
• Sach-SW: Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
• Sach-SW: Stress, Psychological
• K10plus-PPN: 1572237945

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gene by environment (G×E) interaction between genetic variation in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) and stressful life events (SLEs) has been extensively studied in the context of depression. Recent findings suggest increased neural and endocrine stress sensitivity as a possible mechanism conveying elevated vulnerability to psychopathology. Furthermore, these G×E mediated alterations very likely reflect interrelated biological processes. METHODS: In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging study, amygdala reactivity to fearful stimuli was assessed in healthy male adults (n = 44), who were previously found to differ with regard to endocrine stress reactivity as a function of 5-HTTLPR × SLEs. Furthermore, functional connectivity between the amygdala and the hypothalamus was measured as a potential mechanism linking elevated neural and endocrine responses during stressful/threatening situations. The study sample was carefully preselected regarding 5-HTTLPR genotype and SLEs. RESULTS: We report significant G×E interaction on neural response patterns and functional amygdala-hypothalamus connectivity. Specifically, homozygous carriers of the 5-HTTLPR S' allele with a history of SLEs (S'S'/high SLEs group) displayed elevated bilateral amygdala activation in response to fearful faces. Within the same sample, a comparable G×E interaction effect has previously been demonstrated regarding increased cortisol reactivity, indicating a cross-validation of heightened biological stress sensitivity. Furthermore, S'S'/high SLEs subjects were characterized by an increased functional coupling between the right amygdala and the hypothalamus, thus indicating a potential link between neural and endocrine hyperreactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings contribute to the ongoing debate on 5-HTTLPR × SLEs interaction and are discussed with respect to clinical implications.