Evidence of association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and bipolar disorder

Lixiang Liu, Tatiana Foroud, Xiaoling Xuei, Wade Berrettini, William Byerley, William Coryell, Rif El-Mallakh, Elliot S. Gershon, John R. Kelsoe, William B. Lawson, Dean F. MacKinnon, Melvin McInnis, Francis J. McMahon, Dennis L. Murphy, John Rice, William Scheftner, Peter R. Zandi, Falk W. Lohoff, Alexander B. Niculescu, Eric T. MeyerHoward J. Edenberg, John I. Nurnberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in the survival, differentiation, and outgrowth of select peripheral and central neurons throughout adulthood. Growing evidence suggests that BDNF is involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Methods Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the BDNF gene were genotyped in a sample of 1749 Caucasian Americans from 250 multiplex bipolar families. Family-based association analysis was used with three hierarchical bipolar disorder models to test for an association between SNPs in BDNF and the risk of bipolar disorder. In addition, an exploratory analysis was performed to test for an association of the SNPs in BDNF and the phenotypes of rapid cycling and episode frequency. Results Evidence of association (P<0.05) was found with several of the SNPs using multiple models of bipolar disorder; one of these SNPs also showed evidence of association (P< 0.05) with rapid cycling. Conclusion These results provide further evidence that variation in BDNF affects the risk for bipolar disorder.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-274
Number of pages8
JournalPsychiatric genetics
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2008

Keywords

  • Association study
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
  • Single nucleotide polymorphism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evidence of association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and bipolar disorder'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this