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Variant brain‐derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met endophenotypes: implications for posttraumatic stress disorder
Author(s) -
Frielingsdorf Helena,
Bath Kevin G.,
Soliman Fatima,
DiFede JoAnn,
Casey B. J.,
Lee Francis S.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05722.x
Subject(s) - endophenotype , neurotrophic factors , anxiety , psychology , brain derived neurotrophic factor , neuroscience , single nucleotide polymorphism , clinical psychology , neuroimaging , snp , medicine , psychiatry , cognition , genotype , gene , genetics , biology , receptor
Recently, a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been identified in the gene encoding brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The variant BDNF Met has been shown to have decreased activity‐dependent BDNF secretion from neurons and to lead to impairments in specific forms of learning and altered susceptibility to stress. A mouse model containing BDNF Met has also been linked to increased anxiety‐like behavior. In a translational study, mice and human carriers of the BDNF Met allele were compared in their ability to extinguish a learned fear memory. Both showed slower suppression of the learned fear response. In humans, the neural correlates of this behavior were validated using fMRI. As anxiety and fear extinction lie at the core of symptoms and therapeutic approaches to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we propose that BDNF genotype and neuroimaging may be useful as biomarkers to provide guidance for more customized therapeutic directions. The aim of this paper is to review the available knowledge on the BDNF Val66Met SNP, with emphasis on anxiety‐ and fear‐related endophenotypes and its potential implications for PTSD.