OBJECTIVE

To identify associations of polymorphic variants of the genes of BDNF, NGF, and NRG1 neurotrophic factors with the severity of affective disorders and the level of anxiety during therapy in patients with affective disorders (AfD), as well as in patients with affective disorders and comorbid alcohol dependence (AlD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two hundred thirty-five patients with AfD and 62 patients with AR and comorbid AlD aged 18 to 65 years were examined. The severity of AfD was assessed using the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the level of anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) at baseline and on Day 28 of psychopharmacotherapy. Polymorphic variants rs6265, rs7124442, rs11030104, and rs7103411 of the BDNF gene, rs6330 of the NGF gene and rs3924999 of the NRG1 gene were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction on a QuantStudio 5 amplifier (Applied Biosystems, USA) using TaqMan1 Validated SNP Genotyping Assay kits (Applied Biosystems, USA).

RESULTS

In AfD patients, rs3924999*AA of the NRG1 gene was associated with a less severe disease, as assessed using the SIGH-SAD scale for typical depressive symptoms before therapy; rs3924999*AG was associated with a lower CGI score on Day 28 of therapy. In AfD patients with comorbid AlD, rs3924999*AG was associated with a less severe AfD according to the SIGH-SAD score on Day 28 of therapy. Carriage of rs6330*AA of the NGF gene in patients with AfD and AlD comorbidity was associated with less severe anxiety symptoms assessed with the HARS scale.

CONCLUSION

The polymorphic variants rs3924999 of the NRG1 gene and rs6330 of the NGF gene are associated with less severe depressive symptoms and a lower level of anxiety in patients with AfD and AfD combined with AlD.