Serotonin-1A receptor C-1019G polymorphism affects brain functional networks

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 2;7(1):12536. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12913-3.

Abstract

The serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptor is strongly implicated in major depression and other affective disorders due to its negative regulation of serotonin neurone firing rates. Behavioural and clinical studies have repeatedly reported that the -1019G allele carries a high susceptibility for affective disorders. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains unknown. Here, we employed a genetic neuroimaging strategy in 99 healthy human subjects to explore the effect of serotonin-1A receptor polymorphism on brain resting-state functional connectivity (FC). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging, along with a seed-based approach, to identify three main brain networks: the default mode network (DMN), the salience network (SN) and the central executive network. We observed a significant decrease in the FC of the DMN within the dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortices in G-carriers. Furthermore, compared with the C-homozygote group, we observed decreased FC of the SN within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in the G-carrier group. Our results indicate that 5-HT1A receptor genetic polymorphism modulates the activity of resting-state FC within brain networks including the DMN and SN. These genotype-related alterations in brain networks and FC may provide novel insights into the neural mechanism underlying the predisposition for affective disorders in G allele carriers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / pathology
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / diagnostic imaging
  • Gyrus Cinguli / metabolism
  • Gyrus Cinguli / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neural Pathways / diagnostic imaging
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism
  • Neural Pathways / pathology
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / genetics*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / metabolism
  • Serotonin / genetics*
  • Serotonin / metabolism

Substances

  • HTR1A protein, human
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Serotonin