Abstract
BackgroundThe arginine vasopressin receptor (AVPR) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genes have been demonstrated to contribute to prosocial behavior. Recent research has focused on the manner by which these simple receptor genes influence prosociality, particularly with regard to the AVP system, which is modulated by the clock gene. The clock gene is responsible for regulating the human biological clock, affecting sleep, emotion and behavior. The current study examined in detail whether the influences of the OXTR and AVPR1b genes on prosociality are dependent on the clock gene.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis study assessed interactions between the clock gene (rs1801260, rs6832769) and the OXTR (rs1042778, rs237887) and AVPR1b (rs28373064) genes in association with individual differences in prosociality in healthy male Chinese subjects (n = 436). The Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM-R) was used to assess prosociality. Participants carrying both the GG/GA variant of AVPR1b rs28373064 and the AA variant of clock rs6832769 showed the highest scores on the Emotional PTM. Carriers of both the T allele of OXTR rs1042778 and the C allele of clock rs1801260 showed the lowest total PTM scores compared with the other groups.ConclusionsThe observed interaction effects provide converging evidence that the clock gene and OXT/AVP systems are intertwined and contribute to human prosociality.
Highlights
Increasing evidence suggests that circadian rhythms are important regulatory processes
The genotype distributions of all SNPs of clock, arginine vasopressin V1b receptor (AVPR1b) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
Analysis of covariance models revealed a significant interaction effect of AVPR1b rs28373064 and clock rs6832769 on the Emotional PTM [F (1, 425) = 4.88, p = 0.028, partial g2 = 0.011], and significance was maintained after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing
Summary
Increasing evidence suggests that circadian rhythms are important regulatory processes. The molecular mechanisms of the circadian cycle involve at least 9 core circadian genes that control transcriptional and translational feedback loops [3], encoding activator and repressor proteins. Among these circadian genes, the circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (clock) gene is transcribed to produce the CLOCK protein, which is an essential element of the circadian pacemaker that plays a vital role in regulating human biological timing [4]. The clock gene and SCN-mediated circadian clock output affect sleep and emotion [6]. The clock gene is responsible for regulating the human biological clock, affecting sleep, emotion and behavior. The current study examined in detail whether the influences of the OXTR and AVPR1b genes on prosociality are dependent on the clock gene
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