Original scientific paper

ASSOCIATION OF THE GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS IN POLISH ADOLESCENT GIRLS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Monika Dmitrzak-Weglarz ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland, Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, Department of Pulmonology, Pediatrics Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Med
Agnieszka Slopien ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Marta Tyszkiewicz ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Malgorzata Maciukiewicz ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Dorota Zaremba ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Joanna Twarowska-Hauser ; Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Center of Medical Biology; Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland

Abstract

Background: Disturbances in stress response mechanisms and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) functioning are
considered important factors involved in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Thus, genetic variations in the end effector
of HPA - glucocorticoid receptor gene and relationships to stressful life events (SLE) may be connected to a higher risk of illness.
The aim of the study was examining the association between glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) polymorphisms and risk factors
among stressful life events in AN patients.
Subjects and methods: This study comprised 256 patients with AN and 167 control subjects. The questionnaires examining brief
history of the mother’s pregnancy and long-acting stress factors, as well as life events checklist to assess stressful life events during
the 6 months prior to hospitalization were used. The eight common SNPs (rs6198, rs6191, rs6196, rs258813, rs33388, rs41423247,
rs56149945 and rs10052957) of NR3C1 gene were genotyped.
Results: The association of five polymorphisms (rs6191, rs258813, rs33388, rs41423247 and rs10052957) and one complex
allele (TCAGT) of NR3C1 gene with increased risk of AN were found. However, no significant correlations between early, longacting
and predicting hospitalization SLE and any of the analyzed polymorphisms were observed.
Conclusions: The results confirm that the NR3C1 gene is associated with AN risk regardless of the type of stressful triggering
factors.

Keywords

anorexia nervosa - glucocorticoid receptor gene - NR3C1 gene - stressful life events

Hrčak ID:

154755

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/154755

Publication date:

29.3.2016.

Visits: 1.161 *