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Horm Metab Res 2008; 40(3): 194-198
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1004541
Original Basic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Premenopausal Women with Major Depression

P. Krishnamurthy 1 [*] , P. Romagni 1 [*] , S. Torvik 1 , 2 , P. W. Gold 3 , D. S. Charney 3 , S. Detera-Wadleigh 4 , G. Cizza 1 , 3 ,  For the P.O.W.E.R. (Premenopausal, Osteoporosis Women, Alendronate, Depression) Study Group 1
  • 1Clinical Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, USA
  • 2Nursing Department, Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center, Bethesda, USA
  • 3Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, USA
  • 4Section of Neurogenetics, Mood and Anxiety Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 13.03.2007

accepted 15.06.2007

Publication Date:
04 February 2008 (online)

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Abstract

Glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with glucocorticoid hypersensitivity and visceral obesity. Perturbations in HPA axis sensitivity to glucocorticoids implicated in the pathogenesis of major depression may result from functional alterations in the glucocorticoid receptor gene. We 1) examined the prevalence of genotype distribution of specific polymorphisms of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (Bcl1, N363S, rs33388, rs33389) in a subset of women from the P.O.W.E.R. Study (which enrolled 21- to 45-year-old premenopausal women with major depression and healthy controls) and 2) explored whether such polymorphisms were associated with visceral obesity and insulin resistance. Women with major depression had a higher body mass index, a higher waist:hip ratio, and more body fat than did controls. No differences were observed in plasma and urinary cortisol or in insulin sensitivity. The G/G genotype of the Bcl1 polymorphism was significantly more common (p<0.03) in women with major depression (n=52) than in controls (n=29). In addition, GG homozygotes (depressed n=10; controls n=2) had higher waist:hip ratios than did non-GG carriers (p<0.02). N363S, rs33388, and rs33389 polymorphisms were not different between groups. In conclusion, premenopausal women with both major depression and the GG genotype of the Bcl1 polymorphism had greater abdominal obesity compared with non-GG carriers.

Key words

psychosomatics - DNA - women's health

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1 These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence

G. CizzaMD, PhD, MHSc 

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