Influence of psychosocial stress on activation in human brain regions: moderation by the 5-HTTLPR genetic locus

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 220; p. 112876
• Main Authors: Sun, Xiaoqiang, Li, Chuting, Zhong, Xue, Dong, Daifeng, Ming, Qingsen, Gao, Yidian, Xiong, Ge, Cheng, Chang, Zhao, Haofei, Wang, Xiang, Yao, Shuqiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2020
• Subjects: 5-HTTLPR; Alleles; Brain - diagnostic imaging; cortex; Cortisol; dmPFC; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Genetic Loci; Genotype; homozygosity; Humans; loci; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; prefrontal cortex; psychological stress; serotonin; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Stress; Stress, Psychological - genetics; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Cortisol; 5-HTTLPR; Stress; dmPFC
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112876

•SS homozygotes had significant greater stress induced cortisol response.•SS group had significant higher brain activation in dmPFC, dACC, and anterior insula.•The dmPFC was related to the appraisal of subjective stress. Variants of the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 have been related with the onset of depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. Homozygotes for the short 5-HTTLPR variant, referred to as the SS genotype, have greater cortisol responses to experimentally induced psychosocial stress. In the current study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare regional brain activations across 5-HTTLPR genotypes in subjects performing the Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST). Subjects with an SS genotype had significant greater increases in cortisol concentrations after the task than subjects with at least one long 5-HTTLPR allele. Additionally, relative to L carriers, the SS group had greater activation in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex(dmPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula.