Involvement of oxytocin receptor deficiency in psychiatric disorders and behavioral abnormalities

Abstract

Oxytocin and its target receptor (oxytocin receptor, OXTR) exert important roles in the regulation of complex social behaviors and cognition. The oxytocin/OXTR system in the brain could activate and transduce several intracellular signaling pathways to affect neuronal functions or responses and then mediate physiological activities. The persistence and outcome of the oxytocin activity in the brain are closely linked to the regulation, state, and expression of OXTR. Increasing evidence has shown that genetic variations, epigenetic modification states, and the expression of OXTR have been implicated in psychiatric disorders characterized by social deficits, especially in autism. Among these variations and modifications, OXTR gene methylation and polymorphism have been found in many patients with psychiatric disorders and have been considered to be associated with those psychiatric disorders, behavioral abnormalities, and individual differences in response to social stimuli or others. Given the significance of these new findings, in this review, we focus on the progress of OXTR's functions, intrinsic mechanisms, and its correlations with psychiatric disorders or deficits in behaviors. We hope that this review can provide a deep insight into the study of OXTR-involved psychiatric disorders.

Oxytocin in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

“…The oxytocin receptor has also been examined in terms of its relationship with psychiatric disorders. Genetic variations, epigenetic modifications, and methylation and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene may be related to the etiology of psychiatric disorders 14 . It has been reported that the quality of parental care, especially in childhood, is associated with rs53576 and rs2254298 oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms, which are risk factors for depression, anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, and behavioral disorder 15 .…”