›› 2010, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (6): 624-.

• Monographic report (Depressive disorder) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Association of MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms and depression in Han populations

LI Ze-zhi1, YU Shun-ying2, ZHANG Chen1, YUAN Cheng-mei1, HONG Wu1, WANG Yong1, CHEN Jun1, HUANG Jia1, WANG Dong-xiang2, FANG Yi-ru1   

  1. 1.Division of Mood Disorder, 2.Department of Genetics, Shanghai Mental Health Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Online:2010-06-25 Published:2010-06-28
  • Supported by:

    National Key Technologies R&D Program of “10th Five-Year Plan”, 2004BA720A21-02;Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China, “863” Program, 2006AA02Z430;Shanghai“Climbing Mountain Action Plan” Program, 064119533;Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Foundation, 08GWQ075

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the relationship between N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphisms and depression in Han populations. Methods Four hundred and two patients with major depressive disorder diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DSM-IV) (major depressive disorder group) and six hundred healthy controls (control group) were included. All subjects were Han nationality. Patients in major depressive disorder group were assessed with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD)-17, and MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms were determined with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Results There were significant differences in genotype (CC, CT, TT) frequencies between major depressive disorder group and control group (P<0.05). The genotype frequency of TT in major depressive disorder group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The HAMD-17 scores of patients with CT and TT genotypes were significantly higher than that of patients with CC genotype in major depressive disorder group (P<0.05). Conclusion MTHFR gene C677T polymorphisms are associated with depression, and genotype TT is related to the severity of depression.

Key words: major depressive disorder, N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, gene polymorphism