Meta-analysis and association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe psychiatric condition with a clear genetic component (Nicolini et al., 2009) in which neurodevelopmental mechanisms may be etiologically important. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an interesting candidate for molecular analysis in OCD on the basis of potential functional relevance, positive association studies, and reported interaction between this gene and other neurotransmitters implicated in this disorder.

No association between BDNFVal66Met polymorphism and treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder in the Japanese population

“…This is the first association study between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and OCD conducted on a Japanese population. Our finding is consistent with the results of two meta-analyses of previous genetic association studies 21 , 29 and with the results of two genome-wide association studies. 30 , 31 Zai et al conducted a meta-analysis of 13 genetic association studies (five family-based association studies and eight case–control studies, which included Caucasian, Turk, Mexican, and South African Afrikaner cohorts), and they found no association between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and OCD (allele OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.99–1.21; P =0.09).…”

“… 30 , 31 Zai et al conducted a meta-analysis of 13 genetic association studies (five family-based association studies and eight case–control studies, which included Caucasian, Turk, Mexican, and South African Afrikaner cohorts), and they found no association between the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and OCD (allele OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.99–1.21; P =0.09). 21 Mattheisen et al conducted a genome-wide association studies (N=5,061), and they did not find the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism among the top 33 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with P <1×10 −5 . 30 However, caution must be exercised, because the sample size of each association study, including our study, was small, and the allele frequency of this polymorphism is dependent on ethnic background.…”

“…For example, one family-based association study and four case–control studies have demonstrated that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism might be genetically involved in the etiology of OCD, 16 – 20 although a recent meta-analysis of genetic association studies failed to support these findings. 21 In addition, several studies have demonstrated that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was associated with clinical characteristics of OCD, such as symptom severity, age of onset, family history, poor executive functions, and impairments in decision making. 16 , 18 , 22 , 23 Furthermore, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was associated with treatment response to exposure-based cognitive-behavior therapy in patients with OCD, 24 and a BDNF haplotype, including the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, was associated with treatment response to antidepressants in patients with OCD.…”

Meta-analysis of the association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism with obsessive–compulsive disorder

“…Previous studies (33,34) have found significant ethnic differences of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism frequencies, with an approximate Met allele frequency 40% in Eastern and 20% in Western. In order to clarify whether OCD susceptibility is correlated with the ethnic differences of the Val66Met polymorphism, we performed subgroup analyses by ethnicity.…”

Symptom Dimensions and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

“…• There was a significant relationship between the TT genotype of BDNF val66Met polymorphism in OCD. [32,33], i.e. expressed in the brain tissue.…”