Evidence of an Association Between the Vasopressin V1b Receptor Gene (AVPR1B) and Childhood-Onset Mood Disorders

Abstract

We have found evidence to implicate the AVPR1B gene in the etiology of mood disorders, particularly in females. Antagonists of AVPR1b exhibit antidepressant qualities; hence, genetic variation in AVPR1B may have implications in HPA axis dysregulation in mood disorders.

Family-Based Study of AVPR1B Association and Interaction with Stressful Life Events on Depression and Anxiety in Suicide Attempts

“…The results herein were not congruent with other previously observed SNP associations on recurrent major depression (van West et al, 2004), panic disorder (Keck et al, 2008), and attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (van West et al, 2009), and a protective effect of a major allele haplotype in two of these studies (van West et al, 2004;van West et al, 2009). Our results most closely match those of Dempster et al (2007). Perhaps this may be explained by similar methods and outcomes: both Dempster et al (2007) and this study used family-based designs and therefore the associations were robust to population stratification, and childhoodonset major depression is an established endophenotype of suicidal behavior (Mann et al, 2009).…”

“…In contrast to Dempster et al (2007), however, the associations were observed here without sex specificity. The results herein were not congruent with other previously observed SNP associations on recurrent major depression (van West et al, 2004), panic disorder (Keck et al, 2008), and attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (van West et al, 2009), and a protective effect of a major allele haplotype in two of these studies (van West et al, 2004;van West et al, 2009).…”

“…Minor alleles of rs33985287 and rs28536160 were protective in females in a previous association and linkage study on childhood-onset mood disorders (Dempster et al, 2007) and rs28536160 minor allele was protective on bipolar disorder with psychotic features (Leszczynska-Rodziewicz et al, 2012). These results were in the same allelic direction as we observed with SNPs rs33911258 and rs33990840, which tag rs33985287 and rs28536160, respectively (Table 1).…”

“…A risk effect of the major allele haplotype in trios was also congruent with Dempster et al (2007). In contrast to Dempster et al (2007), however, the associations were observed here without sex specificity.…”

“…Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in AVPR1B were previously observed to associate with stressrelated mood and anxiety disorders (van West et al, 2004;Dempster et al, 2007;Keck et al, 2008;van West et al, 2009;Leszczynska-Rodziewicz et al, 2012). AVPR1B knockout in animal models suggest that the gene is involved in response to multiple stressors, in addition to chronic stressors (Roper et al, 2011).…”