Gene-by-social-environment interaction (GxSE) between ADCYAP1R1 genotype and neighborhood crime predicts major depression symptoms in trauma-exposed women

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sarah R. Lowe, Montclair State University; John Pothen, Emory University; James W. Quinn, Montclair State University; Andrew Rundle, Montclair State University; Bekh Bradley-Davino, Emory University; Sandro Galea, Boston University; Kerry Ressler, Emory University; Karestan C. Koenen, Montclair State University
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-11-15
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.002
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Affective Disorders
• ISSN: 0165-0327
• Volume: 187
• Start Page: 147
• End Page: 150
• Keywords: Major depression; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; FEMALES; Gene-by-social-environment interactions; RISK; Neighborhood crime; Neurosciences & Neurology; PAC1 RECEPTOR; MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS; Psychiatry; Clinical Neurology; Posttraumatic stress; AMERICANS; Social environment; Genetic risk; Multilevel modeling; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Mental Health; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Psychology, Psychobiology

Abstract

Background: Few studies have explored interactions between genes and social environmental exposures (GxSEs) for trauma-related psychopathology, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) and major depression (MD). The extant literature suggests the possibility of a GxSE between the rs2267735 variant of the ADCYAP1R1 gene and neighborhood crime. The current study aimed to explore this possibility among a predominantly African American sample of trauma-exposed women. Methods: Female participants (N = 1361) were recruited from a public hospital, and completed measures of PTS and MD symptoms and provided DNA samples. Participants’ home addresses were mapped onto 300 neighborhoods (2010 census tracts), and data on crime within neighborhoods was collected. Results: Multilevel models detected a significant GxSE between rs2267735 and neighborhood crime for MD symptoms (p = .01). Having two copies of the risk (C) allele was associated with higher MD symptoms for participants living in high-crime neighborhoods. Limitations: At least six limitations are noteworthy: (1) low statistical power; (2) use of self-report symptom inventories; (3) lack of information on symptom onset; (4) homogeneous sample from a single metropolitan area; (5) non-specific index of crime; and (6) use of census tracts to define neighborhoods. Conclusions: The results provide further evidence of GxSEs for psychiatric outcomes among trauma-exposed populations. Further investigations of genetic factors for trauma-related psychopathology should include careful assessments of the social environment.