RESUMO

The hypothesis that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in the pathogenesis of major depression is supported by several research findings; however, genetic studies assessing the relationship between BDNF and psychiatric disorders have produced conflicting results. We examined the effect of a BDNF polymorphism on depression susceptibility in Mexican-Americans. The single nucleotide polymorphism (Val66Met), which has been shown to have functional and behavioral effects, was genotyped in 284 depressed participants and 331 controls, showing association with depression (P=0.005). Individuals homozygous for the major allele (GG) had an increased chance of being depressed (OR=1.7 95% CI 1.17-2.47). Our findings support the association of BDNF single nucleotide polymorphism rs6265 and depression, suggesting that this polymorphism may increase susceptibility to major depression in Mexican-Americans.

Assuntos

Química Encefálica/genética , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/genética , Transtorno Depressivo/etnologia , Transtorno Depressivo/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Americanos Mexicanos/genética , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Adulto , Substituição de Aminoácidos/genética , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Fator Neurotrófico Derivado do Encéfalo/química , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Transtorno Depressivo/metabolismo , Feminino , Frequência do Gene/genética , Marcadores Genéticos/genética , Testes Genéticos , Genótipo , Homozigoto , Humanos , Masculino , Metionina/genética , Americanos Mexicanos/etnologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Valina/genética