Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met genotype modulates amygdala habituation. (30th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perez-Rodriguez, M. Mercedes; New, Antonia S.; Goldstein, Kim E.; Rosell, Daniel; Yuan, Qiaoping; Zhou, Zhifeng; Hodgkinson, Colin; Goldman, David; Siever, Larry J.; Hazlett, Erin A.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 263(2017)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2017-05-30
• Subjects: BPD borderline personality disorder -- BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- fMRI functional magnetic resonance imaging -- SPD schizotypal personality disorder -- HC healthy control -- SNP single nucleotide polymorphism -- Val valine -- Met methionine -- PTSD posttraumatic-stress disorder -- MDD major depressive disorder -- MP-RAGE magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo -- IAPS International Affective Picture System -- LSD Least Significant Difference -- DBT Dialectical Behavior Therapy; BDNF -- Amygdala -- Habituation -- Borderline personality disorder -- Extinction -- Emotion regulation; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Brain -- Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Diagnostic Imaging -- Periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; Cerveau -- Imagerie pour le diagnostic -- Périodiques; 616.890754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2017.03.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-4927

Abstract

Abstract: A deficit in amygdala habituation to repeated emotional stimuli may be an endophenotype of disorders characterized by emotion dysregulation, such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). Amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli is genetically modulated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) variants. Whether amygdala habituation itself is also modulated by BDNF genotypes remains unknown. We used imaging-genetics to examine the effect of BDNF Val66Met genotypes on amygdala habituation to repeated emotional stimuli. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 57 subjects (19 BPD patients, 18 patients with schizotypal personality disorder [SPD] and 20 healthy controls [HC]) during a task involving viewing of unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant pictures, each presented twice to measure habituation. Amygdala responses across genotypes (Val66Met SNP Met allele-carriers vs. Non-Met carriers) and diagnoses (HC, BPD, SPD) were examined with ANOVA. The BDNF 66Met allele was significantly associated with a deficit in amygdala habituation, particularly for emotional pictures. The association of the 66Met allele with a deficit in habituation to unpleasant emotional pictures remained significant in the subsample of BPD patients. Using imaging-genetics, we found preliminary evidence that deficient amygdala habituation may be modulated by BDNF genotype. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Amygdala habituation is abnormal in borderline personality disorder. The role of BDNF Val66Met genotypes in habituation is unknown. We used imaging-genetics to test the effect of BDNF genotype on habituation. BDNF Val66Met genotypes modulate amygdala habituation.