TITLE:
Genome-Wide Association Study in Thai Tsunami Survivors Identified Risk Alleles for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
AUTHORS:
Nuntika Thavichachart, Taisei Mushiroda, Thongchai Thavichachart, Ongart Charoensook, Anchalee Prasansuklab, Prathan Rutchatajumroon, Sookjaroen Tangwongchai, Puangsoi Worakul, Buranee Kanchanatawan, Siriluck Suppapitiporn, Atapol Sughondhabirom, Chutima Roomruangwong, Wasun Chantratita, Atsushi Takahashi, Michiaki Kubo, Naoyuki Kamatani, Yusuke Nakamura
KEYWORDS:
Death-Associated Protein 1 Gene (DAP1), Genetics, Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Tsunami
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Genetics,
Vol.5 No.2,
June
11,
2015
ABSTRACT: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder found in individuals afflicted by a traumatic event. Multiple environmental and genetic factors can contribute to PTSD susceptibility. Since it is rare to find members of the same family afflicted by the same catastrophic event, it is not practical to determine PTSD susceptibility genes by a gene linkage analysis. A natural disaster, such as the 2004 Tsunami, provided us with a rare chance for a genetic analysis of PTSD. To identify SNPs associated with PTSD susceptibility, we conducted a genome-association study (GWAS) in Thai-Tsunami survivors. Initial phase of the study with 396 chronic PTSD patients and 457 controls, we identified top ninety SNPs (P -4), which were further assessed in the second phase with 395 chronic PTSD patients and 798 controls. Two SNPs (rs267950 and rs954406), were identified in the second phase, and subjected to fine mapping using a data set from both phases. SNP rs267943 showed the strongest association with PTSD susceptibility and was in complete linkage disequilibrium with SNP rs267950 with P = 6.15 × 10-8, OR = 1.46 and 95% CI = 1.19 - 1.79, reaching genome-wide significance. SNP rs267943 is located on chromosome 5 in the intron of the death-associated protein 1 (DAP1) gene and, when linked to a synthetic promoter, could regulate transcription. To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS for PTSD susceptibility in an Asian population which could provide an important insight into the genetic contribution of PTSD and may lead to new treatment strategies for PTSD.