Association study of DNA methyltransferase gene polymorphisms and depressive disorder in perimenopausal woman

Objective To investigate the relationship between DNMT3B gene polymorphisms and qualitative characters/quantitative characters of depressive disorder in perimenopausal woman. Methods Four hundred and three patients were randomly selected from 4 684 perimenopausal women attending three gynecological clinics and one psychological clinic,spans from November,2009 to January,2013,then data were collected.The Beck's depression inventory(BDI) and SCID-I/P were used to screen the depressive symptoms and diagnose the depressive disorder,finally 65 patients and 122 matching controls were picked out.Peripheral blood samples were collected from all of the 398 patients.Two tag single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs,rs6141813 and rs2424908) in DNMT3B gene were genotyped by snapshot genotyping assay.The BDI was used to quantify the phenotypes of depressive symptoms.SNPStats software was used to analysis the relationship between DNMT3B gene polymorphisms and depressive disorder or depressive symptoms. Results There were no statistical differences in genotype or allele distribution of two tag snaps in DNMT3B gene between two groups(P>0.05);The haplotype of TC jointed by rs6141813 and rs2424908 polymorphism of DNMT3B gene was positive correlated to quantitative trait of depressive symptoms (Add value=2.45;95% CI=0.14-4.75;P=0.04) with the strong linkage disequilibrium existent(D'=0.98,r²=0.62). Conclusion The results suggest that polymorphisms in DNMT3B gene maybe is associated with quantitative character of depressive symptoms,and it maybe has tiny role in gene level for determine one to be patient or not finally.