The International SSRI Pharmacogenomics Consortium (ISPC): a genome-wide association study of antidepressant treatment response

Transl Psychiatry. 2015 Apr 21;5(4):e553. doi: 10.1038/tp.2015.47.

Abstract

Response to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) varies considerably between patients. The International SSRI Pharmacogenomics Consortium (ISPC) was formed with the primary goal of identifying genetic variation that may contribute to response to SSRI treatment of major depressive disorder. A genome-wide association study of 4-week treatment outcomes, measured using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), was performed using data from 865 subjects from seven sites. The primary outcomes were percent change in HRSD-17 score and response, defined as at least 50% reduction in HRSD-17. Data from two prior studies, the Pharmacogenomics Research Network Antidepressant Medication Pharmacogenomics Study (PGRN-AMPS) and the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study, were used for replication, and a meta-analysis of the three studies was performed (N=2394). Although many top association signals in the ISPC analysis map to interesting candidate genes, none were significant at the genome-wide level and the associations were not replicated using PGRN-AMPS and STAR*D data. The top association result in the meta-analysis of response represents SNPs 5′ upstream of the neuregulin-1 gene, NRG1 (P = 1.20E - 06). NRG1 is involved in many aspects of brain development, including neuronal maturation and variations in this gene have been shown to be associated with increased risk for mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. Replication and functional studies of these findings are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Neuregulin-1 / genetics
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Remission Induction
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / genetics

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • BRD2 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • MCPH1 protein, human
  • NRG1 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neuregulin-1
  • SCN7A protein, human
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK39 protein, human