Dopamine receptor D2 and D4 genes, GABA A alpha-1 subunit gene and response to lithium prophylaxis in mood disorders

Abstract

Lithium is an effective prophylactic agent in mood disorders, and genetic factors are likely to modulate individual susceptibility to lithium treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), D4 exon 3 (DRD4), and γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A) receptor alpha-1 subunit (GABRA1) gene variants on the efficacy of lithium prophylaxis in mood disorders. Patients with mood disorders ( N=125: bipolar subtype, n=100; major depressive disorder subtype, n=25) were followed prospectively for an average of 53 months and were typed for DRD2 (Ser311/Cys311: n=121, VNTR: n=63), DRD4 ( n=125) and GABRA1 ( n=61) variants using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. DRD2, DRD4 and GABRA1 variants were not associated with response to lithium. A trend was observed toward a better outcome of DRD4*2/4 subjects, but it was due to only two subjects. Consideration of possible stratification effects like gender, polarity, family history, age at onset and duration of lithium treatment did not reveal any association either. DRD2, DRD4 and GABRA1 variants therefore do not appear to be associated with the outcome of lithium prophylaxis in mood disorders.