近日,，我國(guó)科學(xué)家成功發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)可能的焦慮或抑郁易感基因,。相關(guān)研究成果作為封面文章日前發(fā)表在《神經(jīng)科學(xué)通報(bào)》（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(yán)重者更會(huì)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(zhuǎn)運(yùn)體蛋白的5-HTTLPR基因?qū)箲]和抑郁的發(fā)生至關(guān)重要,。5-HTTLPR短等位基因的存在，對(duì)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(guān)聯(lián)是否存在仍是個(gè)謎,。

中科院自動(dòng)化研究所教授蔣田仔和天津醫(yī)科大學(xué)總醫(yī)院教授于春水帶領(lǐng)團(tuán)隊(duì)通過對(duì)233位健康的中國(guó)漢族受試者運(yùn)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(zhǎng)、短等位基因攜帶者大腦中腦區(qū)間的功能與結(jié)構(gòu)連接的變化,。他們意外發(fā)現(xiàn),，5-HTTLPR長(zhǎng)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(jié)構(gòu)連接顯著減弱,。

相關(guān)系數(shù)檢驗(yàn)顯示,，這兩個(gè)腦區(qū)間的功能連接與焦慮程度呈顯著負(fù)相關(guān)，并且結(jié)構(gòu)連接與抑郁程度也呈顯著負(fù)相關(guān),。這些結(jié)果表明,，與白種人不同，在中國(guó)漢族人群中,，5-HTTLPR的長(zhǎng)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(diǎn)評(píng)述”,。中國(guó)醫(yī)科大學(xué)教授徐克和美國(guó)耶魯大學(xué)教授王菲表示，這項(xiàng)研究成果對(duì)于認(rèn)識(shí)神經(jīng)網(wǎng)絡(luò)處理情感信息的結(jié)構(gòu)和功能基礎(chǔ)具有長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)而積極的意義,，同時(shí)也增加了人們對(duì)焦慮和抑郁病理機(jī)制的認(rèn)識(shí),。更為重要的是，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)明確了基因?qū)τ谏窠?jīng)信號(hào)處理的重要性以及研究精神紊亂時(shí)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,。