Table 1.
Genetic implications in Postpartum Depression.
| S. No. | Genes involved | Implications in PPD | References |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
5-HTTLPR (5HTT-linked polymorphic region) |
Polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (5- HTT) gene: serotonin transporter removes the neurotransmitter serotonin from the synaptic cleft. It determines the duration as well as the magnitude of post-synaptic serotonin signals, implicated in psychiatric disorders like depression. |
(Lesch and Mössner, 1998, Ogilvie et al., 1996) |
| 2 | MAO-A (uVNTR) and COMT (Val158Met; Met carriers) polymorphisms | Allelic variations in two other genes of the monoaminergic transmission system were found to be associated with major depression, like catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), which is involved in the metabolism of dopamine, noradrenaline and monoamine oxidase involved in the metabolism of serotonin and nor-adrenaline. |
(Doornbos et al., 2009, Mandelli and Serretti, 2013, Pinsonneault et al., 2013) |
| 3 | ESR 1 (Estrogen Receptor Gene) | Estrogens are implicated in serotonin transmission. The interaction between 5-HTT (5- HTTLPR) and is ESR1 found to be involved with PPD symptoms. |
(Costas et al., 2010, Pinsonneault et al., 2013) |
| 4 | e C/C variant (rs2740210) and G/G variant (rs4813627), three polymorphisms on the oxytocin peptide gene and oxytocin receptor gene. | The oxytocin receptor gene and oxytocin peptide gene are found to be associated with PPD symptoms |
(Mileva-Seitz et al., 2013) |
| 5 | BclI (C/G) and CRH receptor CRHR1 (A/G), glucocorticoid gene corticotropin releasing hormone gene polymorphism | Three polymorphisms of the CRH receptor gene and two polymorphisms of glucocorticoid receptor genes are involved in two to eight weeks of PPD. |
(Engineer et al., 2013) |
| 6 | BDNF polymorphism Val66Met | BDNF performs the neuronal function of regulating synaptic plasticity. |
(Comasco et al., 2011, Martinowich and Lu, 2008) |
| 7 | Per2 10,870 (Period 2 gene) | Performs an important function in the regulation of circadian rhythm. No association was observed between PPD and polymorphism in Per2 10870. |
(Comasco et al., 2011) |