Polymorphism of CTLA-4 Gene in Major Depressive Disorder

Jun, Tae Youn; Pae, Chi Un; Kim, Byung Kyun; Chae, Jeong Ho; Bahk, Won Myong; Kim, Kwang Soo; Lew, Tae Yul; Han, Hoon

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was carried out to explore the relationship between major depressive disorder and CTLA-4 which is related to the immunologic function such as T cell regulation.
METHODS
Among the Korean patients diagnosed as major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV, 77 patients without neurological illness, hormonal disorder, or comorbid mental illness were selected. The stored data of 149 normal Koreans from the Catholic Hemopoietic Stem Cell Bank of Korea, were used as a normal control group. The data of Korean control group were compared with those of the studies of different ethnics. DNA was extracted from whole blood and the exon 1 region of CTLA-4 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Gene typing was performed by using SSCP and then, the results were assessed.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies of CTLA-4*G/G, CTLA-4*G/A, and CTLA-4*A/A between the patients with major depressive disorder and the control group in Korean population(48.1% vs 46.3%, 41.6% vs 39.6%, 10.3% vs 14.1%, respectively).There were no significant differences in allelic frequencies of CTLA-4*G and CTLA-4*A between the patients with major depressive disorder and the control group in Korean population(68.8% vs 66.1%, 31.2% vs 33.9%, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Considering negative result for the association of the exon 1 polymorphism of CTLA-4 gene with major depressive disorder in this study, the exon 1 polymorphism does not appear to be possible candidate gene for major depressive disorder. Moreover, further systematic researches including diverse clinical variables would be required.