Potential role of the estrogen receptor gene (ESR1) in anxiety

In addition to neurotransmitters, hormones, acting through the blood stream, also play a role in behavior. To test the potential contribution of genetic variations in hormone receptors we have examined the association between the alleles of the dinucleotide repeat of the estrogen receptor 1 gene ( E...

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Veröffentlicht in:Molecular psychiatry 1999-07, Vol.4 (4), p.374-377
Hauptverfasser: Comings, D E, Muhleman, D, Johnson, P, MacMurray, J P
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:In addition to neurotransmitters, hormones, acting through the blood stream, also play a role in behavior. To test the potential contribution of genetic variations in hormone receptors we have examined the association between the alleles of the dinucleotide repeat of the estrogen receptor 1 gene ( ESR1 ) and the nine subscores and total score of the SCL-90 in a group of 179 adult males treated for substance abuse. Based on our prior hypothesis that the length of repeat polymorphisms may play a direct role in gene regulation, the alleles were divided into two groups, short (S) and long (L). ANOVA of the SS, LS, and LL genotypes showed a significant association at α ≤0.05 for three of the SCL-90 scores: anxiety, phobic anxiety, and total symptoms. Of these the anxiety score remained significant at a Bonferroni corrected α of ≤0.005. By regression analysis, the ESR1 gene accounted for 7% of the variance of the anxiety score ( P  ≤ 0.0004). These results are consistent with a role of the ESR1 gene in human behavior. Since estrogen levels are much higher in women than men, this could account for the increased frequency of anxiety in women.
ISSN:1359-4184
1476-5578
DOI:10.1038/sj.mp.4000503