儿茶酚氧位甲基转移酶基因多态性与抑郁症认知功能的关联性研究

目的探讨儿茶酚氧位甲基转移酶（COMT）基因多态性与抑郁症认知功能及其严重程度的关系。方法采用病例一对照研究。应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）及聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（PAGE）方法．检测抑郁症患者（患者组）和健康志愿者（对照组）COMT基因多态性分布。患者组评定24项汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD-24）、威斯康星卡片分类测验（WCST）、中国韦氏成人记忆量表（WMS—RC）、连线A、B测验。结果COMT等位基因与基因型频率在患者组和对照组内均有显著性差异（Χ^2检验，P均〈0．01），在两组间无显著性差异（Χ^2检验，P均〉0．05）；患者组COMT等位基因、基因型之间在WCST、WMS—RC和连线A、B测验无显著性差异（F检验，P均〉0．05），但在HAMD-24认识障碍因子分上均有显著性差异（F检验，P均〈0．05）；患者组基因型A／A与认识障碍（r=-0．210，P=0．036）、绝望感（r=-0．331，P=0．001）均呈负相关；等位基因A与绝望感呈负相关（r=-0．220，P=0．028）；等位基因G与认识障碍（r=0．210，P=0．036）、绝望感（r=0．331，P=0．001）均呈正相关。在WCST测验中，等位基因G与持续错误数呈正相关（r=0．341，P=0．000）；在WMS—RC测验中，等住基因G与数字广度（倒背）呈负相关（r=-0．327，P=0．001）。结论提示COMT基因多态性与抑郁症患者的疾病严重程度及认知功能的改变存在相关性。

An association study on polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene and cognitive function in depression

Objective To explore the relationship between catechol --O-- methyhransferase gene （COMT） polymorphism and cognitive function in depression. Methods The polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （PAGE） techniques were used to detect COMT gene poly- morphism in patients with depression （study group）, and 100 healthy volunteers as controls （control group）. The depression severity was assessed with the 24- item Hamilton Depression Scale （HAMD24）, and the cognitive function was assessed using a series of neuropsychological tests including Wisconsin cards sorting test（WCST）, Wechsler memory scale of Republic of China（WMS--RC）, Trial test A and B. Results Significant differences in COMT genotype and allele frequencies were found in study group and control group respectively （P 〈 0.01）, but no significant differences between two groups （P 〉 0.05） ; No significant differences in the scores of neuropsychological tests were observed between COMT genotype and allele frequencies in study group （P 〉 0.05）, but significant differences were found in the cognition item scores of HAMD24 （P 〈 0.05） ; In study group, COMT genotype A/A frequency was negatively correlated to the cognition and disappear items scores of HAMD24 respectively（r=-0. 210, P =0. 036; r=-0. 331, P =0.001）, allele G correlated to depressive symptoms was opposite to genotype A/A, and allele A negatively was negatively eorrelated to the disappear symptoms （r= -0. 220, P =0. 028）. Moreover, allele G frequency was positively correlated to the persistent errors（r =0.341, P = 0. 000）, and negatively to the number extent of neuropsyehologieal tests （r= -0. 327, P =0. 001）. Conclusions COMT gene polymorphism is possibly associated with depression severity and change of cognitive function.