Journal
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 328, Issue 3, Pages 299-303Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00527-X
Keywords
affective disorders; major depression; angiotensin I-converting enzyme; insertion/deletion polymorphism; cortisol; adrenocorticotropic hormone; combined Dex/CRH test
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The Dex/CRH test is one of the most reliable neuroendocrine function tests for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system dysregulation in depression. Persistent overdrive of HPA system activity after successful antidepressant treatment predicts an enhanced risk for relapse of a depressive episode. As the renin-angiotensin system has been shown to play a role in HPA system activity, we investigated the impact of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism, which determines ACE plasma concentrations, on HPA system dysregulation. We performed repeated combined Dex/CRH tests in 115 patients suffering from major depression. Dex/CRH test results were related to the I/D polymorphism within the ACE gene, which was assessed by PCR. Genotype frequencies were comparable to those in the general population (I/I 16.8%, I/D 59.3%, D/D 23.9%). D/D genotypes showed a higher cortisol stimulation during the first Dex/CRH test after admission than homozygous I-allele carriers (repeated measurement ANOVA: P = 0.034). Cortisol area under the curve values were highest in those with the D/D genotype (mean +/- SEM [nmol/l*75 min]: 12700 +/- 2220), intermediate in those with the I/D genotype (9570 +/- 1000), and lowest in those with the I/I genotype (5160 +/- 1000; ANOVA: P = 0.04). After successful antidepressive treatment and attenuation of HPA system overdrive these differences were no more detectable. The HPA axis stimulating properties of higher ACE and consecutively higher AT-II and/or lower substance P concentrations may be crucial factors for the HPA system hyperactivity during major depressive episodes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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