Gender Differences in Depression: Evidence From Genetics

Lihong Zhao; Guanghong Han; Yinghao Zhao; Yang Jin; Tongtong Ge; Wei Yang; Ranji Cui; Songbai Xu; Bingjin Li

doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.562316

Gender Differences in Depression: Evidence From Genetics

Front Genet. 2020 Oct 15:11:562316. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.562316. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Lihong Zhao¹, Guanghong Han², Yinghao Zhao¹, Yang Jin¹, Tongtong Ge¹, Wei Yang¹, Ranji Cui¹, Songbai Xu³, Bingjin Li¹

Affiliations

¹ Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
² Department of Oral Geriatrics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
³ Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.

Abstract

Compared with men, female accounts for a larger proportion of patients with depression. Behavioral genetics researches find gender differences in genetic underpinnings of depression. We found that gender differences exist in heritability and the gene associated with depression after reviewing relevant research. Both genes and gene-environment interactions contribute to the risk of depression in a gender-specific manner. We detailed the relationships between serotonin transporter gene-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) and depression. However, the results of these studies are very different. We explored the reasons for the contradictory conclusions and provided some suggestions for future research on the gender differences in genetic underpinnings of depression.

Keywords: depression; gender difference; gene-environment interactions; genetics; heritability.

Publication types

Review