Evidence of association between Val66Met polymorphism at BDNF gene and anxiety disorders in a community sample of children and adolescents

► We evaluated the association between anxiety disorders and Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF gene in children and adolescents. ► Subjects (cases and controls) were recruited from a community sample. ► Carrying one copy of the Met allele was associated with anxiety disorders in children and adolesc...

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Published in:Neuroscience letters 2011-09, Vol.502 (3), p.197-200
Main Authors: Tocchetto, Andréa, Salum, Giovanni A., Blaya, Carolina, Teche, Stefania, Isolan, Luciano, Bortoluzzi, Andressa, Rebelo e Silva, Rafael, Becker, Juliana A., Bianchin, Marino M., Rohde, Luis Augusto, Leistner-Segal, Sandra, Manfro, Gisele G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Amino Acid Substitution - genetics
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorders - genetics
Anxiety Disorders - metabolism
BDNF
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Chemistry - genetics
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics
Child
Child psychiatry
Cohort Studies
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetic
Genetic association studies
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics
Genetic Testing - methods
Humans
Male
Methionine - genetics
Polymorphism
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Valine - genetics
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:► We evaluated the association between anxiety disorders and Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF gene in children and adolescents. ► Subjects (cases and controls) were recruited from a community sample. ► Carrying one copy of the Met allele was associated with anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. ► This is the first study documenting a potential role of this polymorphism in a community sample of anxious children and adolescents. Different lines of evidence support BDNF as a candidate gene in mood and anxiety modulation. More recently, the Met allele of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism has been implicated in anxiety in animal models and anxiety-traits in humans. The aim of this study is to evaluate the a priori hypothesis that the association between anxiety disorders and Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF gene would be replicated in a community sample of children and adolescents. 240 subjects from a total sample of 2457 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years from the public schools in the catchment area of the primary care unit of a university hospital participated in this case-control study and were assessed for psychopathology using the K-SADS-PL. A sample of saliva was collected for DNA analysis of Val66Met polymorphism. BDNF was the single gene evaluated in this sample. We found a significant association between carrying one copy of the Met allele and higher chance of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. The association remained positive even after the adjustment for potential confounders (228 subjects; OR=3.53 (CI95% 1.77–7.06; p
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2011.07.044