Promoter Polymorphisms of the Interferon-α Receptor Gene and Development of Interferon-Induced Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: Preliminary Findings

Vol. 52, No. 2, 2005

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Original Paper

Promoter Polymorphisms of the Interferon- Receptor Gene and Development of Interferon-Induced Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: Preliminary Findings
Keizo Yoshida^{a, b}, Oyetunde Alagbe^a, Xiaohong Wang^{a, †}, Bobbi Woolwine^a, Marie Thornbury^a, Charles L. Raison^a, Andrew H. Miller^a

^aDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga., USA;
^bDepartment of Psychiatry, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Neuropsychobiology 2005;52:55-61 (DOI: 10.1159/000086605)

Key Words

Depression
Interferon-
Genetic polymorphism
Microsatellite

Abstract

Background: Interferon (IFN)- alpha treatment frequently induces depression, which can impair quality of life and reduce treatment adherence. Defining relevant risk factors for IFN- alpha -induced depression is essential for designing preventative treatment strategies. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether promoter polymorphisms of -408C/T, -3C/T and GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite in the IFN- alpha / beta receptor 1 (IFNAR1) gene are associated with the development of IFN-induced depression. Method: Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with pegylated IFN alpha -2b plus a standard or weight-based dose of ribavirin. Severity of depression was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Result: The baseline to maximum difference in the SDS index score of neurovegetative/somatic symptoms was higher in patients with the 5/14 genotype of the GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite polymorphism than in those patients with other genotypes (p = 0.0084). Conclusion: This preliminary result suggests that the promoter GT repeat dinucleotide microsatellite polymorphism of the IFNAR1 gene may represent a risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms during IFN- alpha therapy for hepatitis C and other conditions.

Author Contacts

Keizo Yoshida, MD, PhD
Department of Psychiatry
Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo
Akita 010-8543 (Japan)
Tel. +81 18 884 6122, Fax +81 18 884 6445, E-Mail cxw01076@nifty.com

Article Information

Published online: June 29, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 21

Medline Abstract (ID 15990456)

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