Involvement of Genetic and Environmental Factors in the Onset of Depression

초록

First, this article provides a brief overview of the previous hypotheses regarding depression and then focuses on involvement ofgenetic and environmental factors in development of depression. According to epidemiological research, 30~40% of occurrences ofbipolar disorder involve a genetic factor. Therefore, environmental factors play a more important role in development of depression. Resilience and resistance to stress are common; therefore, although a certain extent of stress might be received during the embryonicor perinatal period, having a genetic predisposition to mental disorders does not imply that a mental disorder will develop. However,having a genetic predisposition to disorders does weaken resistance to stresses received during puberty, and without the ability torecover, a mental disorder is triggered. The importance of epigenetics in maintaining normal development and biology is reflected bythe observation that development of many diseases occurs when the wrong type of epigenetic marks are introduced or are added atthe wrong time or in the wrong place. Involvement of genetic and environmental factors in the onset of depression was investigatedin relation to epigenetics. When mice with the disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) abnormal gene received isolated rearing stress,depression-like abnormal behaviors and decreased gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the frontal cortex by epigeneticalsuppression via DNA methylation were observed. Decrease of dopamine in the frontal cortex triggers behavioral disorders. Administration of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist resulted in full recovery from neurological and behavioral disorders. Theseresults suggest a new therapeutic approach to depression.

키워드