Effect of the common functional FKBP5 variant (rs1360780) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and peripheral blood gene expression

Abstract

Regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity plays an important role in the development of stress-related psychiatric disorders. FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) modulates HPA axis reactivity via glucocorticoid receptor (GR; NR3C1) sensitivity and signaling. The T allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism, FKBP5 rs1360780 (C/T), is associated with higher FKBP5 induction by glucocorticoids. In the present study, we performed the dexamethasone/corticotropin releasing hormone (DEX/CRH) test and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cDNA samples in 174 and 278 non-clinical individuals, respectively. We found increased suppression of the stress hormone (cortisol) response to the DEX/CRH test (P=0.0016) in aged (>50 years) individuals carrying the T allele compared with aged non-T allele carriers. T carriers showed significant age-related changes in GR and FKBP5 mRNA expression levels in PBMCs (P=0.0013 and P=0.00048, respectively). Our results indicate that FKBP5 rs1360780 regulates HPA axis reactivity and expression levels of GR and FKBP5 in PBMCs in an age-dependent manner. Because these phenotypes of aged T carriers are similar to endophenotypes of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, our findings may be useful for determining the molecular mechanisms, treatment, and preventive strategies for this disease.