Association of CLOCK, ARNTL, and NPAS2 gene polymorphisms and seasonal variations in mood and behavior. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Hae-In; Lee, Heon-Jeong; Cho, Chul-Hyun; Kang, Seung-Gul; Yoon, Ho-Kyoung; Park, Young-Min; Lee, Seung-Hwan; Moon, Joung-Ho; Song, Hye-Min; Lee, Eunil; Kim, Leen
• Is Part Of: Chronobiology international. Volume 32:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 785
• Page End: 791
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Chronobiology -- Periodicals; Biological rhythms -- Periodicals; Circadian rhythms -- Periodicals; 571.77
• DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2015.1049613
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-0528

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition of seasonal mood changes characterized by recurrent depression in autumn or winter that spontaneously remits in spring or summer. Evidence has suggested that circadian gene variants contribute to the pathogenesis of SAD. In this study, we investigated polymorphisms in the <italic>CLOCK, ARNTL</italic>, and <italic>NPAS2</italic> genes in relation to seasonal variation in 507 healthy young adults. Seasonal variations were assessed with the Seasonality Pattern Assessment Questionnaire. The prevalence of SAD was 12.0% (winter-type 9.3%, summer-type 2.8%). No significant difference was found between the groups in the genotype distribution of <italic>ARNTL</italic> rs2278749 and <italic>NPAS2</italic> rs2305160. The T allele of <italic>CLOCK</italic> rs1801260 was significantly more frequent in seasonals (SAD + subsyndromal SAD) compared with non-seasonals (<italic>p</italic> = 0.020, odds ratio = 1.89, 95% confidence interval = 1.09–3.27). Global seasonality score was significantly different among genotypes of <italic>CLOCK</italic> rs1801260, but not among genotypes of <italic>ARNTL</italic> rs2278749 and <italic>NPAS2</italic> rs2305160. However, statistical difference was observed in the body weight and appetite subscales among genotypes of <italic>ARNTL</italic> rs2278749 and in the body weight subscale among genotypes of <italic>NPAS2</italic> rs2305160. There was synergistic interaction between <italic>CLOCK</italic> rs1801260 and <italic>ARNTL</italic> rs2278749 on seasonality. To our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal an association between the <italic>CLOCK</italic> gene and seasonal variations in mood and behavior in the Korean population. Although we cannot confirm previous findings of an association between SAD and the <italic>ARNTL</italic> and <italic>NPAS2</italic> genes, these genes may influence seasonal variations through metabolic factors such as body weight and appetite. The interaction of the <italic>CLOCK</italic> and <italic>ARNTL</italic> genes contributes to susceptibility for SAD.</p> </abstract>