The role of PGC-1 and Apoε4 in insomnia

Objective Insomnia is associated with certain psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. Moreover, sleep is controlled by endogenous circadian genes, which are associated with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1 alpha). In addition, apolipoprotein epsilon 4 (Apo epsilon 4), which plays an important role in lipid metabolism, may be also associated with some mental disorders related to insomnia. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PGC-1 alpha in insomnia among different mental disorder groups under the control of Apo epsilon 4 and other psychosocial factors. Methods A total of 202 patients with insomnia and 253 controls were recruited. Results Logistic regression and structural equation modeling showed similar results in that with sex and age controlled, major depressive disorder, PGC-1 alpha and Apo epsilon 4 increased the risk of insomnia. With the factors of sex, age, major depressive disorder, and Apo epsilon 4 controlled, PGC-1 alpha still increased the risk for insomnia, showing that the GG allele of PGC-1 alpha may play an important role in insomnia. Conclusion In the future, when treating those with insomnia and high lipid profiles, health education with regard to how to control their lipid profile maybe used. Psychiatr Genet 22: 82-87 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.