近日,，我國科學家成功發(fā)現(xiàn)一個可能的焦慮或抑郁易感基因。相關研究成果作為封面文章日前發(fā)表在《神經(jīng)科學通報》（Neuroscience Bulletin ）上,。

情感障礙（例如焦慮和抑郁）在全球范圍內(nèi)具有較高的發(fā)病率,，往往給病人造成心理和生活上的諸多困擾和障礙，嚴重者更會表現(xiàn)出自殺傾向,。此前研究發(fā)現(xiàn),，在高加索人（也稱白種人）中，編碼5-羥色胺轉運體蛋白的5-HTTLPR基因對焦慮和抑郁的發(fā)生至關重要,。5-HTTLPR短等位基因的存在,，對于白種人而言，往往暗示著發(fā)生焦慮和抑郁的較大可能性,。然而,，在亞洲人群中這種關聯(lián)是否存在仍是個謎。

中科院自動化研究所教授蔣田仔和天津醫(yī)科大學總醫(yī)院教授于春水帶領團隊通過對233位健康的中國漢族受試者運用功能磁共振成像（fMRI）和磁共振彌散張量成像（DTI）,，比較了5-HTTLPR長,、短等位基因攜帶者大腦中腦區(qū)間的功能與結構連接的變化。他們意外發(fā)現(xiàn),，5-HTTLPR長等位基因攜帶者較短純合子攜帶者具有更高的焦慮分值,，并且靜息狀態(tài)下前額葉皮層—杏仁核的功能和結構連接顯著減弱。

相關系數(shù)檢驗顯示,，這兩個腦區(qū)間的功能連接與焦慮程度呈顯著負相關,，并且結構連接與抑郁程度也呈顯著負相關。這些結果表明,，與白種人不同,，在中國漢族人群中，5-HTTLPR的長等位基因可能是焦慮或抑郁的易感基因。

據(jù)悉,，該雜志同期還為此刊發(fā)了“亮點評述”,。中國醫(yī)科大學教授徐克和美國耶魯大學教授王菲表示，這項研究成果對于認識神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡處理情感信息的結構和功能基礎具有長遠而積極的意義,，同時也增加了人們對焦慮和抑郁病理機制的認識,。更為重要的是，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)明確了基因對于神經(jīng)信號處理的重要性以及研究精神紊亂時考慮種族背景的重要性,。 （生物谷Bioon.com）

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The long rather than the short allele of 5-HTTLPR predisposes Han Chinese to anxiety and reduced connectivity between prefrontal cortex and amygdala

Haixia Long1,*, Bing Liu1,*, Bing Hou1, Chao Wang2, Jin Li1, Wen Qin3, Dawei Wang3, Yuan Zhou4, Keith M. Kendrick2, Chunshui Yu3, Tianzi Jiang1,2,5

The short allele of the serotonin-transporter gene is associated with higher risk for anxiety and depression in Caucasians, but this association is still unclear in Asians. Here, we addressed this issue using behavioral and multi-modal MRI approaches in a large group of healthy Han Chinese participants (n = 233). In contrast to findings in Caucasians, we found that long-allele (L) carriers had higher anxiety scores. In another group (n = 64) experiencing significant levels of depression or anxiety, the L-allele frequency was also significantly higher. In healthy participants, L-carriers had reduced functional and anatomical connectivity between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC), which was correlated with anxiety or depression scores. Our findings demonstrated that in Chinese Han participants, in contrast to Caucasians, the L-allele confers vulnerability to anxiety or depression and weakens top-down emotional control between the PFC and amygdala. Therefore, ethnic background should be taken into account in generelated studies and their potential clinical applications,。