Cholecystokinin B receptor gene polymorphism (rs2941026) is associated with anxious personality and suicidal thoughts in a longitudinal study

Objective: Cholecystokinin is a neuropeptide with a role in the neurobiology of adaptive behaviour that is implicated in anxiety disorders, while the underlying mechanisms currently remain insufficiently explained. The rs2941026 variation in the cholecystokinin B receptor gene has previously been associated with trait anxiety. Our aim was to investigate associations between the CCKB receptor gene polymorphism rs2941026 with anxiety, personality, depressiveness, and suicidality in a longitudinal study of late adolescence and early adulthood. Methods: We used reports on trait and state anxiety, depressiveness and suicidal thoughts, as well as Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales, from the two birth cohorts of the Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study. We measured associations between the CCKBR gene rs2941026 and anxiety-related phenotypes both longitudinally and cross-sectionally at ages 15, 18, 25 and 33. Results: Homozygosity for both alleles of the CCKBR rs2941026 was associated with higher trait and state anxiety in the longitudinal analysis. Cross-sectional comparisons were statistically significant at ages 18 and 25 for trait anxiety and at ages 25 and 33 for state anxiety. Higher depressiveness and suicidal thoughts were associated with the A/A genotype at age 18. Additionally, homozygosity for the A-allele was related to higher FEAR and SADNESS in the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales. The genotype effects were more apparent in females, who displayed higher levels of negative affect overall. Conclusions: CCKBR genotype is persistently associated with negative affect in adolescence and young adulthood. The association of the CCKBR rs2941026 genotype with anxiety-related phenotypes is more pronounced in females.

Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Lactating Dogs

Genetic variations in the oxytocinergic system, known to regulate social behavior throughout the evolution of mammals, are believed to account for differences in mammalian social behavior. Particularly, polymorphic variants of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have been associated with behavioral variations in both humans and dogs. In this study, we offered evidence of the correlation between levels of salivary oxytocin (sOXT), maternal behavior and a single-nucleotide gene variant in OXTR (rs8679684) in nineteen lactating Labrador Retriever dogs. Carriers of at least one copy of the minor A allele showed higher levels of sOXT and maternal care in comparison with the homozygous T allele carriers. Considering the relevance of mother care in newborn development, these findings could help us to better understand the possible impact of variants in the OXTR gene in selecting dams.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in women with genital endometriosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and in the population

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and the risk of developing genital endometriosis and type 1 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequency of allelic variants of the VDR gene was studied by PCR-RFLP analysis in 282 women, including 129 patients with genital endometriosis (stages IIV), 71 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 82 women of the control group represented by the population sample. RESULTS: It was found that the frequency of the allele G polymorphic variant of rs1544410 (BsmI) in the VDR gene was significantly higher in the group of patients with genital endometriosis compared to the population sample (p = 0.048). Significant differences for the G / G genotype in patients with genital endometriosis relative to the control group (p 0.05) and the group of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (p 0.05) were revealed. According to the odds ratio, the risk of developing genital endometriosis was 1.9 times higher for this genotype (OR = 1.93 CI = 1.0823.450; OR = 1.892 CI = 1.0223.430). The combination of the A / A and G / A genotypes was significantly more common in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.040) and in the population (p = 0.025), when compared to the patients with genital endometriosis. A significant increase in the t allele of the rs731236 polymorphism (TaqI) of the VDR gene was found in the group of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (p 0.05). The combination of the T / t and t / t genotypes of the rs731236 polymorphism (TaqI) of the VDR gene in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus were significantly more common than in the group of patients with genital endometriosis (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained may be important for risk assessment of genital endometriosis and type 1 diabetes mellitus development and for developing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.