Genetic variability within the S100B gene influences personality traits in both sexes

Abstract

Genetic variability within the S100B gene influences personality traits in both sexes

 

P. Suchankova^*,1, F. Baghaei², R. Rosmond², G. Holm², H. Anckarsäter³,A. Ekman¹

 

The neurotrophic factor S100B belongs to the S100 family of Ca²⁺ - binding proteins. It is abundant in the central nervous system (CNS) where it is expressed mainly by astrocytes. Elevated serum levels of S100B have proven useful as an indicator of brain-injury but have also been found in a number of psychiatric disorders such as major depression and bipolar affective disorder as well as during acute psychotic episodes of schizophrenia. Recently associations were found between variations in the S100B gene and schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder; however, no studies have to this date investigated the potential influence that variance within the S100B gene may have on general brain functions. With this in mind we genotyped two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the gene, the 2757C>G SNP (rs1051169) found in exon 2 and the 5748C>T SNP (rs9722) found in the 3’UTR, in two cohorts. The studied populations consisted of 42-year-old women (n=270) and 51-year-old men (n=240), both cohorts recruited from the National Population Register, Gothenburg, Sweden. The participants were asked to fill out the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), a self-administered true/false questionnaire. The two polymorphisms were analysed with respect to TCI dimensions. The 2757C>G polymorphism was found to influence the TCI dimension self-directedness in both women and men, with higher scores of this trait in 2757G homozygotes.  In men, further associations were found between this SNP and the dimensions novelty seeking and reward dependence. No association was found between the 5748C>T SNP and personality traits in women, however, in men this polymorphism was highly associated with self-directedness. In conclusion, the S100B gene may be implicated not only in certain brain conditions, but also in general brain functions.

 

¹Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology, ²Institute of Medicine, Department of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research, University of Gothenburg at Sahlgrenska Academy and ³Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg at Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.