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The effect of catechol‐ O ‐methyltransferase polymorphisms on pain is modified by depressive symptoms
Author(s) -
Schwahn C.,
Grabe H.J.,
Schwabedissen H. Meyer zu,
Teumer A.,
Schmidt C.O.,
Brinkman C.,
Kocher T.,
Nauck M.,
Völzke H.,
Biffar R.,
Bernhardt O.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2011.00067.x
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , depression (economics) , catechol o methyl transferase , chronic pain , medicine , snp , depressive symptoms , rs4680 , population , clinical psychology , psychology , psychiatry , genotype , gene , cognition , genetics , environmental health , biology , economics , macroeconomics
Background Variations within the catechol‐ O ‐methyltransferase ( COMT ) gene have been associated with pain severity in temporomandibular disorders ( TMDs ). Psychological factors such as personal conflicts, life stress and depression, are well known to be associated with onset, severity and chronicity of pain disorders. Aim We hypothesized that the relationship between the COMT gene and TMD pain is modified by depressive symptoms. Methods Cross‐sectional data from the population‐based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) in G ermany were used to estimate additive interactions between depressive symptoms and 22 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ) of the COMT gene and the neighbouring thioredoxin reductase 2 ( TXNRD2 ) gene on TMD pain. All participants were Caucasian subjects from a rural area in Northeast G ermany. After exclusion of 79 subjects with antidepressant medication, 29.9% of the remaining 3904 subjects reported lifetime depressive symptoms. TMD pain was assessed by a standardized clinical examination. Among various TMD signs, only those that assessed muscle or joint pain on palpation were used as recommended. Results Six SNPs from the first of three COMT / TXNRD2 haploblocks interacted with depressive symptoms on TMD pain (smallest p ‐value: 2.7 × 10 −10 ). In subjects without depressive symptoms, rs5993882 was identified as the SNP most likely to be related to TMD pain. In subjects with symptoms of depression, rs1544325 was the corresponding top COMT SNP . Conclusions Our results indicate that variants within the COMT gene are associated with pain perception. However, this association is highly moderated by the absence or presence of lifetime depressive symptoms.