Pro198Leu polymorphism in the oxidative stress gene, glutathione peroxidase-1, is associated with a gender-specific risk for panic disorder

Abstract

Objective. Panic disorder (PD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by sudden attacks of intense fear. Biochemical studies suggest that oxidative stress (OS) index is significantly higher in PD, and OS genes may participate in development of anxiety-like behavioral phenotypes. We aimed to investigate role of polymorphisms in OS gene, glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1), and DNA repair enzyme gene, 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1), in PD patients. Methods. GPX1 Pro198Leu (rs1050450) and OGG1 Ser326Cys (rs1052133) polymorphisms of 127 patients with PD and 151 disease-free controls were analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Severity of PD symptoms was assessed by Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS). Results. No significant relationship was found in genotype distributions of OGG1 Ser326Cys and GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphisms between PD and control groups (p > 0.05). There was no significant relationship between OGG1 or GPX1 polymorphisms, and age of onset, agoraphobia, or PAS scores in PD group (p > 0.05). However, in GPX1 Pro198Leu polymorphism, C allele (Pro) was found to be more frequent in female subgroup of PD patients compared with that in males (p = 0.027). Conclusions. GPX1 Pro198Leu and OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms were not associated with PD risk in Turkish patients. However, a gender-specific effect of GPX1 Pro198Leu C allele may be associated with PD development.

Key words::

• Panic disorder
• oxidative stress
• GPX1 gene
• DNA repair
• OGG1 gene

Acknowledgments

The preliminary findings of this study were presented at the 12th National Medical Biology and Genetics Congress, October 26 30, 2011, Antalya, Turkey and at FEBS EMBO 2014 Conference, August 30 to September 4, 2014, Paris, France.

Statement of interest

None.

This work was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University, Project Grant Number 21871. The preliminary findings of this study were presented at the 12th National Medical Biology and Genetics Congress, October 26–30, 2011, Antalya, Turkey and at FEBS EMBO 2014 Conference, August 30 to September 4, 2014, Paris, France.