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Association study of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) and LIN‐7 homolog ( LIN‐7 ) genes with adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Author(s) -
Lanktree Matthew,
Squassina Alessio,
Krinsky Marilee,
Strauss John,
Jain Umesh,
Macciardi Fabio,
Kennedy James L.,
Muglia Pierandrea
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30723
Subject(s) - proband , psychology , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , neuroscience , linkage disequilibrium , brain derived neurotrophic factor , dopaminergic , haplotype , neurotrophic factors , allele , genetics , biology , psychiatry , gene , dopamine , receptor , mutation
Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder with a large genetic component that has been shown to persist into adulthood in 30–60% of childhood ADHD cases. Adult ADHD confers an increased risk of ADHD in relatives when compared to childhood ADHD, possibly due to a greater genetic liability than the childhood form. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ) is a neurotrophin expressed in the brain throughout life and is involved in survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity of several neuronal systems including dopaminergic pathways. Mammalian LIN‐7 homolog is selectively expressed in specific neuronal populations and is involved in the postsynaptic density of neuronal synapses. LIN‐7 is also a positional candidate, as it lies immediately downstream of BDNF . We tested for association between five BDNF polymorphisms, two LIN‐7 polymorphisms and adult ADHD. The sample consisted of 80 trios comprised of an adult ADHD proband and their biological parents and an independent sample of 121 adult ADHD cases and a corresponding number of sex, age, and ethnically matched controls (total 201 probands). Allelic and haplotype association was found between both BDNF and adult ADHD, and LIN‐7 and adult ADHD. HapMap indicates BDNF and LIN‐7 occur in different haplotype blocks, though some linkage disequilibrium exists between the SNPs in these adjacent genes. Further investigations into the pathologic mechanisms of BDNF and LIN‐7 in adult ADHD are required. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.