Affiliations: [a] Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (iBG-izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35220, Turkey | [b] Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35220, Turkey | [c] Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35220, Turkey | [d] Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35220, Turkey
Abstract: Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophins have an important role in the development of mental disorders. Here, we aim to assess the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms at potentially regulated regions of GDNF on the severity and functionality of bipolar disorders and GDNF serum levels in bipolar disorder patients and healthy volunteers. Severity and functionality of bipolar disorders were evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression and Global Assessment of Functioning scales in sixty-six bipolar disorder patients. The GDNF serum levels obtained from bipolar disorder patients and healthy volunteers who had reported SNPs information by our group. GAF scales were lower and GDNF serum levels were higher in bipolar disorder patients with T/A genotype at 5:37812784 and 5:37812782 compared to patients with T/T genotype. There were significant differences in severity and functionality scores, but not in GDNF serum levels, between patients with G/G and G/A genotype of rs62360370 G > A SNP.rs2075680 C > A and rs79669773 T > C SNPs had no effect on bipolar disorder severity and functionality scores and GDNF serum levels. The results suggest that some SNPs of GDNF have potential association with severity and functionality of bipolar disorder. In addition, except two SNPs, none of GDNF SNPs were associated with GDNF serum levels.
