Atypical dynamic network reconfiguration and genetic mechanisms in patients with major depressive disorder

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 132; p. 110957
• Main Authors: Xiao, Hairong, Tang, Dier, Zheng, Chuchu, Yang, Zeyu, Zhao, Wei, Guo, Shuixia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 08.06.2024
• Subjects: Dynamic reconfiguration; Gene expression; Major depressive disorder; Multi-layer network; Multi-layer network; Gene expression; Dynamic reconfiguration; Major depressive disorder
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110957

Brain dynamics underlie complex forms of flexible cognition or the ability to shift between different mental modes. However, the precise dynamic reconfiguration based on multi-layer network analysis and the genetic mechanisms of major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired from the REST-meta-MDD consortium, including 555 patients with MDD and 536 healthy controls (HC). A time-varying multi-layer network was constructed, and dynamic modular characteristics were used to investigate the network reconfiguration. Additionally, partial least squares regression analysis was performed using transcriptional data provided by the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA) to identify genes associated with atypical dynamic network reconfiguration in MDD. In comparison to HC, patients with MDD exhibited lower global and local recruitment coefficients. The local reduction was particularly evident in the salience and subcortical networks. Spatial transcriptome correlation analysis revealed an association between gene expression profiles and atypical dynamic network reconfiguration observed in MDD. Further functional enrichment analyses indicated that positively weighted reconfiguration-related genes were primarily associated with metabolic and biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, negatively enriched genes were predominantly related to programmed cell death-related terms. Our findings offer robust evidence of the atypical dynamic reconfiguration in patients with MDD from a novel perspective. These results offer valuable insights for further exploration into the mechanisms underlying MDD. •The current study uses a novel time-varying multi-layer network in one of the largest MDD datasets.•Our findings offer robust evidence of atypical dynamic reconfiguration in patients with MDD.•The salience and subcortical networks show notable alterations, affecting information processing and emotional regulation.•The atypical reconfiguration is correlated with depressive symptom severity, highlighting its clinical relevance.•We have shed light on the genetic architecture underlying the observed dynamic reconfiguration in MDD.