The association study between the polymorphisms of BDNF gene and the response of citalopram antidepressant treatment

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relevance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms and the effects of citalopram antidepressant. Methods The subjects comprised 280 patients according to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in the fourth edition (DSM-IV) criterion for major depressive disorder (MDD). Severity of depression were assessed by 17 Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) at the baseline and 1, 2, 4, 6 weekend.Citalopram were selected for treatment.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing analysis were used to detect the genotype of SNPs rs7124442 and rs6265 of BDNF.SPSS17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results (1) There were 280 patients (242 responders and 38 nonresponders; 175 remissioners and 105 nonremissioners) accomplished 6 weeks of treatment.No association was found between the polymorphisms and antidepressant drug response or remission (the reduction rate of HAMD score ≥50% was defined as response, conversely, defined as nonresponse; HAMD score more than 7 was named as remission, in contrast, named as nonremission) (P>0.05). (2) Repeated measures analysis of variance was adopted to compare the change of HAMD scores among the genotypes at different time points.There was a significant difference in rs6265 polymorphism between the GA+ AA genotype (the scores of HAMD at 2, 4, 6 weeks were(9.98±4.97), (8.02±4.50), (5.83±3.49) respectively) and the GG genotype groups (the scores of HAMD at 2, 4, 6 weeks were(11.90±6.55), (9.34±4.71), (7.07±4.28) respectively) (P=0.031). Conclusion The results suggest that BDNF rs6265 polymorphisms in part determine the antidepressant response to citalopram. Key words: Major depressive disorders; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Gene polymorphisms; Citalopram; Antidepressant treatment