Allelic variation in CRHR1 predisposes to panic disorder: evidence for biased fear processing.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a major regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Binding to its receptor CRHR1 triggers the downstream release of the stress response-regulating hormone cortisol. Biochemical, behavioral and genetic studies revealed CRHR1 as a possible candidate gene for mood and anxiety disorders. Here we aimed to evaluate CRHR1 as a risk factor for panic disorder (PD). Allelic variation of CRHR1 was captured by 9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were genotyped in 531 matched case/control pairs. Four SNPs were found to be associated with PD, in at least one sub-sample. The minor allele of rs17689918 was found to significantly increase risk for PD in females after Bonferroni correction and furthermore decreased CRHR1 mRNA expression in human forebrains and amygdalae. When investigating neural correlates underlying this association in patients with PD using functional magnetic resonance imaging, risk allele carriers of rs17689918 showed aberrant differential conditioning predominantly in the bilateral prefrontal cortex and safety signal processing in the amygdalae, arguing for predominant generalization of fear and hence anxious apprehension. Additionally, the risk allele of rs17689918 led to less flight behavior during fear-provoking situations but rather increased anxious apprehension and went along with increased anxiety sensitivity. Thus reduced gene expression driven by CRHR1 risk allele leads to a phenotype characterized by fear sensitization and hence sustained fear. These results strengthen the role of CRHR1 in PD and clarify the mechanisms by which genetic variation in CRHR1 is linked to this disorder.

Meta-analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor p.Val66Met in adult ADHD in four European populations.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifactorial, neurodevelopmental disorder that often persists into adolescence and adulthood and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Before the advent of the first genome-wide association studies in ADHD, genetic research had mainly focused on candidate genes related to the dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems, although several other genes had also been assessed. Pharmacological data, analysis of animal models and association studies suggest that Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is also a strong candidate gene for ADHD. Several polymorphisms in BDNF have been reported and studied in psychiatric disorders but the most frequent is the p.Val66Met (rs6265G > A) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), with functional effects on the intracellular trafficking and secretion of the protein. To deal with the inconsistency raised among different case-control and family-based association studies regarding the p.Val66Met contribution to ADHD, we performed a meta-analysis of published as well as unpublished data from four different centers that are part of the International Multicentre Persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT). A total of 1,445 adulthood ADHD patients and 2,247 sex-matched controls were available for the study. No association between the p.Val66Met polymorphism and ADHD was found in any of the four populations or in the pooled sample. The meta-analysis also showed that the overall gene effect for ADHD was not statistically significant when gender or comorbidity with mood disorders were considered. Despite the potential role of BDNF in ADHD, our data do not support the involvement of p.Val66Met in the pathogenesis of this neuropsychiatric disorder.

[Comorbidity of substance use disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders: pathogenesis and therapy]. / Komorbidität von Suchterkrankungen und Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung: Pathogenese und Therapie.

Substance use disorders (e.g. substance addiction, substance abuse) and adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (adult ADHD) are frequent psychiatric disorders with a high individual and social relevance. Complex interactions of common and divergent susceptibility genes and environmental factors are important for both disorders which have a relatively high heritability. Substance use disorders and adult ADHD are both associated with an increased risk for additional axis I disorders. The results of studies with respect to the comorbidity of adult ADHD and substance use disorders are inconsistent. Different hypotheses with respect to comorbidity are under discussion. A standardised diagnostic procedure has to be followed. The consequence of misdiagnosing adult ADHD with comorbid substance use disorder is that relevant specific therapeutic procedures will not be followed or stimulants will be prescribed too easily for individuals with substance use disorders. Multimodal integrated therapeutic concepts for the comorbidity of substance use disorders and adult ADHD have yet to be developed.

Alterations in expression of glutamatergic transporters and receptors in sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Excitatory neurotransmitter dysfunction has been discussed to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the current study we investigated gene and protein expression patterns of glutamatergic receptors and transporters in brains of AD patients in various stages of disease using gene chip arrays, real time PCR and immunohistochemistry. We found marked impairment in the expression of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT1 and EAAT 2) at both gene and protein levels in hippocampus and gyrus frontalis medialis of AD patients, already in early clinical stages of disease. The loss of EAAT immunoreactivity was particularly obvious in the vicinity of amyloid plaques. In contrast, EAAT expression was up-regulated in the cerebellum of these patients. Furthermore, a significant up-regulation of the glutamatergic kainate (GRIK4) receptor observed by gene arrays was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR in late stages in the hippocampus of AD patients. Moreover, there were down-regulations of other glutamatergic receptors such as NMDA (GRINL1A) and AMPA (GRIA4) receptors. Our data show marked changes in the functional elements of the glutamatergic synapses such as glutamatergic receptors and transporters and indicate impaired glutamate clearing rendering neurons susceptible to excess extracellular glutamate and support further the involvement of excitotoxic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AD.

FZD3 is not a risk gene for schizophrenia: a case-control study in a Caucasian sample.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms in the human frizzeled-3 (FZD3) gene have been associated with schizophrenia in an Asian population sample. However, this finding could not be confirmed in subsequent studies investigating other populations. Here we attempted to replicate this finding in a sample of 192 German chronically ill schizophrenic subjects. METHODS: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FZD3 gene have been genotyped by primer extension and MALDI-TOF measurement. Subsequently, associations for single markers as well as haplotypes were tested. RESULTS: In German patients, neither single markers nor haplotypes in FZD3 were associated with schizophrenia. Further exploratory analyses using a different diagnostic approach did also not yield significant results. CONCLUSIONS: FZD3 is unlikely to play a role in the genetic predisposition towards schizophrenia in the Caucasian population.

Exome chip analyses in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable childhood-onset neuropsychiatric condition, often persisting into adulthood. The genetic architecture of ADHD, particularly in adults, is largely unknown. We performed an exome-wide scan of adult ADHD using the Illumina Human Exome Bead Chip, which interrogates over 250 000 common and rare variants. Participants were recruited by the International Multicenter persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT). Statistical analyses were divided into 3 steps: (1) gene-level analysis of rare variants (minor allele frequency (MAF)<1%); (2) single marker association tests of common variants (MAF⩾1%), with replication of the top signals; and (3) pathway analyses. In total, 9365 individuals (1846 cases and 7519 controls) were examined. Replication of the most associated common variants was attempted in 9847 individuals (2077 cases and 7770 controls) using fixed-effects inverse variance meta-analysis. With a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of 1.82E-06, our analyses of rare coding variants revealed four study-wide significant loci: 6q22.1 locus (P=4.46E-08), where NT5DC1 and COL10A1 reside; the SEC23IP locus (P=6.47E-07); the PSD locus (P=7.58E-08) and ZCCHC4 locus (P=1.79E-06). No genome-wide significant association was observed among the common variants. The strongest signal was noted at rs9325032 in PPP2R2B (odds ratio=0.81, P=1.61E-05). Taken together, our data add to the growing evidence of general signal transduction molecules (NT5DC1, PSD, SEC23IP and ZCCHC4) having an important role in the etiology of ADHD. Although the biological implications of these findings need to be further explored, they highlight the possible role of cellular communication as a potential core component in the development of both adult and childhood forms of ADHD.

Near-infrared optical topography to assess activation of the parietal cortex during a visuo-spatial task.

Multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a relatively new method to investigate the brain activation, based on changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (HHb). Recently, it has been shown that NIRS seems to be able to detect even small changes in O2Hb and HHb concentration due to cognitive demands. This study aimed at investigating the changes in O2Hb and HHb concentrations of the parietal cortex during a spatial task, a modified version of the Benton Line Orientation Task [Gur, R. C., Alsop, D., Glahn, D., Petty, R., Swanson, C. L., Maldjian, J. A., et al. (2000). An fMRI study of sex differences in regional activation to a verbal and a spatial task. Brain & Language, 74(2), 157-170.]. Twenty-four subjects were measured with NIRS while they had to estimate the orientation of a given line or to name the colour of the line in the control condition. Both conditions consisted of three activation phases each lasting 30 s, with a 10 s baseline and a 20 s post resting period. For assessing the changes in O2Hb and HHb concentrations, we measured with 24 NIRS channels over the parietal cortex using the NIRS apparatus ETG-100 (Hitachi Medical Ltd.). O2Hb concentration significantly increased during the active phase compared to the baseline for both conditions, but was significantly higher in the active phase for the line orientation condition compared to the colour naming condition bilaterally parieto-occipital. For the HHb concentrations, we only found significant decreases for both conditions but no differences between the conditions. The results of our study underscore the value of multi-channel NIRS for assessing cortical activation during cognitive tasks.

The genetic contribution of the NO system at the glutamatergic post-synapse to schizophrenia: further evidence and meta-analysis.

NO is a pleiotropic signaling molecule and has an important role in cognition and emotion. In the brain, NO is produced by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I, encoded by NOS1) coupled to the NMDA receptor via PDZ interactions; this protein-protein interaction is disrupted upon binding of NOS1 adapter protein (encoded by NOS1AP) to NOS-I. As both NOS1 and NOS1AP were associated with schizophrenia, we here investigated these genes in greater detail by genotyping new samples and conducting a meta-analysis of our own and published data. In doing so, we confirmed association of both genes with schizophrenia and found evidence for their interaction in increasing risk towards disease. Our strongest finding was the NOS1 promoter SNP rs41279104, yielding an odds ratio of 1.29 in the meta-analysis. As findings from heterologous cell systems have suggested that the risk allele decreases gene expression, we studied the effect of the variant on NOS1 expression in human post-mortem brain samples and found that the risk allele significantly decreases expression of NOS1 in the prefrontal cortex. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that this might be due the replacement of six transcription factor binding sites by two new binding sites as a consequence of proxy SNPs. Taken together, our data argue that genetic variance in NOS1 resulting in lower prefrontal brain expression of this gene contributes to schizophrenia liability, and that NOS1 interacts with NOS1AP in doing so. The NOS1-NOS1AP PDZ interface may thus well constitute a novel target for small molecules in at least some forms of schizophrenia.

An international multicenter association study of the serotonin transporter gene in persistent ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder affecting children and adults. It has been suggested that gene variants related to serotonin neurotransmission are associated with ADHD. We tested the functional promoter polymorphism 5-HTTLPR and seven single nucleotide polymorphisms in SLC6A4 for association with ADHD in 448 adult ADHD patients and 580 controls from Norway. Replication attempts were performed in a sample of 1454 Caucasian adult ADHD patients and 1302 controls from Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and USA, and a meta-analysis was performed also including a previously published adult ADHD study. We found an association between ADHD and rs140700 [odds ratio (OR ) = 0.67; P = 0.01] and the short (S) allele of the 5-HTTLPR (OR = 1.19; P = 0.06) in the Norwegian sample. Analysis of a possible gender effect suggested that the association might be restricted to females (rs140700: OR = 0.45; P = 0.00084). However, the meta-analysis of 1894 cases and 1878 controls could not confirm the association for rs140700 [OR = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.67-1.09; P = 0.20]. For 5-HTTLPR, five of six samples showed a slight overrepresentation of the S allele in patients, but meta-analysis refuted a strong effect (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.00-1.21; P = 0.06). Neither marker showed any evidence of differential effects for ADHD subtype, gender or symptoms of depression/anxiety. In conclusion, our results do not support a major role for SLC6A4 common variants in persistent ADHD, although a modest effect of the 5-HTTLPR and a role for rare variants cannot be excluded.

A functional dopamine-beta-hydroxylase gene promoter polymorphism is associated with impulsive personality styles, but not with affective disorders.

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DbetaH) catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine in central noradrenergic and adrenergic neurons and thus is critically involved in the biosynthesis of catecholamines. There are equivocal findings concerning the question whether or not DssH activity levels are altered in affective disorders or in subtypes of affective disorders. Moreover, information about the role of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) genotype, which explains a large part of the variance of enzymatic activity, in affective disorders and personality dimensions is limited. To resolve these inconsistencies, association tests were performed using four independent samples, healthy volunteers (N = 387), patients with affective disorders (N = 182), adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients (N = 407), and patients with personality disorders (N = 637). In the latter two samples, the revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) was administered. All participants were genotyped for a putatively functional single nucleotide polymorphism (C-1021T, rs1611115). No differences in DBH C-1021T genotype distribution were observed between patients with affective disorders and healthy control subjects. Also when the patient sample was divided into uni- and bipolar patients versus controls, no significant differences emerged. Furthermore, no clear-cut association was detected between the TT genotype and personality disorder clusters while there was a significant association with adult ADHD. However, personality disorder patients carrying the DBH TT genotype exhibited higher neuroticism and novelty seeking scores as compared to individuals with the CC or CT genotype. Analyses on the level of the neuroticism and novelty seeking subscales revealed that the DBH TT genotype was primarily associated with personality features related to impulsiveness and aggressive hostility. Also adult ADHD patients carrying the homozygous TT genotypes displayed by significantly increased neuroticism scores; when both personality disorder and adult ADHD patient were analyzed together, TT carriers also displayed by significantly lower conscientiousness levels. Our results thus do not implicate the DBH C-1021T polymorphism in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders or personality disorders, yet homozygosity at this locus appears to increase the risk towards personality traits related to impulsiveness, aggression and related disease states, namely adult ADHD. These data argue for a dimensional rather than categorical effect of genetic variance in DBH activity; accordingly, the inconsistency of previous findings concerning DbetaH levels in affective disorders might be caused by the underlying association of the TT genotype at DBH-1021 with impulsive personality traits.

[Multimodal treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Multimodale Therapie der Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung im Erwachsenenalter.

The indication for treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adult ADHD) is derived not from the diagnosis itself but results from the severity of symptoms, comorbidities, psychosocial consequences, and a lack of defined resources for ADHD. The basis of therapy is psychoeducation that includes teaching about symptoms, models of the disorder, and options for treatment. The combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is recommended. Methylphenidate is considered the first-line therapy, because of its strong effect and modest side effects, but is not authorized in Germany ("off-label use"). Atomoxetine, which is authorized for continuing treatment into adulthood, is indicated if methylphenidate is insufficient or has unacceptable side effects and in case of comorbid substance use. Various psychotherapeutic interventions using available ADHD-typical resources have demonstrated positive effects. Psychosocial support and self-help groups complete the treatment concept. Persistence of the treatment indication has to be reevaluated at regular intervals. Disorder-specific multimodal therapy of adult ADHD conforms to the complex, primarily neurobiologic etiology and the psychosocial consequences.

Serotonin transporter gene variation impacts innate fear processing: Acoustic startle response and emotional startle.

Anxiety-related behaviors are closely linked to neural circuits relaying fear-specific information to the amygdala. Many of these circuits, like those underlying processing of innate fear, are remarkably well understood. Recent imaging studies have contributed to this knowledge by discriminating more detailed corticoamygdalar associations mediating processing fear and anxiety. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. We used the acoustic startle paradigm to investigate the impact of molecular genetic variation of serotonergic function on the acoustic startle response and its fear potentiation. Startle magnitudes to noise bursts as measured with the eye blink response were recorded in 66 healthy volunteers under four conditions: presenting unpleasant and pleasant affective pictures as well as neutral pictures, and presenting the startle stimulus without additional stimuli as a baseline. Subjects were genotyped for functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene-linked region: 5-HTTLPR). Analyses of variance revealed a significant effect of 5-HTTLPR on overall startle responses across conditions. Carriers of the short (s) allele exhibited stronger startle responses than l/l homozygotes. However, we could not confirm our hypothesis of enhanced fear potentiation of the startle in s allele carriers. In conclusion, the results provide first evidence that the startle response is sensitive to genetic variation in the serotonin pathway. Despite some issues remaining to be resolved, the startle paradigm may provide a valuable endophenotype of fear processing and underlying serotonergic influences.

A neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I) haplotype associated with schizophrenia modifies prefrontal cortex function.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous neurotransmitter thought to play important roles in several behavioral domains. On a neurobiological level, NO acts as the second messenger of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and interacts with both the dopaminergic as well as the serotonergic system. Thus, NO is a promising candidate molecule in the pathogenesis of endogenous psychoses and a potential target in their treatment. Furthermore, the chromosomal locus of the gene for the NO-producing enzyme NOS-I, 12q24.2, represents a major linkage hot spot for schizophrenic and bipolar disorder. To investigate whether the gene encoding NOS-I (NOS1) conveys to the genetic risk for those diseases, five NOS1 polymorphisms as well as a NOS1 mini-haplotype, consisting of two functional polymorphisms located in the transcriptional control region of NOS1, were examined in 195 chronic schizophrenic, 72 bipolar-I patients and 286 controls. Single-marker association analysis showed that the exon 1c promoter polymorphism was linked to schizophrenia (SCZ), whereas synonymous coding region polymorphisms were not associated with disease. Long promoter alleles of the repeat polymorphism were associated with less severe psychopathology. Analysis of the mini-haplotype also revealed a significant association with SCZ. Mutational screening did not detect novel exonic polymorphisms in patients, suggesting that regulatory rather than coding variants convey the genetic risk on psychosis. Finally, promoter polymorphisms impacted on prefrontal functioning as assessed by neuropsychological testing and electrophysiological parameters elicited by a Go-Nogo paradigm in 48 patients (continuous performance test). Collectively these findings suggest that regulatory polymorphisms of NOS1 contribute to the genetic risk for SCZ, and modulate prefrontal brain functioning.