Large-scale whole-exome sequencing association study identifies FOXH1 gene and sphingolipid metabolism pathway influencing major depressive disorder

CNS Neurosci Ther. 2021 Nov;27(11):1425-1428. doi: 10.1111/cns.13733.

Abstract

In the present study, we performed an exome-wide investigation of the burden of rare disease-causing variants for major depressive disorder (MDD) using 16,702 samples from UK biobank. Gene-based association analysis and candidate gene prioritization analysis indicated that FOXH1 have significant association with MDD. In addition, sphingolipid metabolism pathway was found to be less enriched with rare disease-causing variants in the MDD group, suggesting that this gene set may be involved in the pathophysiology of MDD.

Keywords: UK biobank; burden analysis; major depressive disorder; rare variants; whole-exome sequencing.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / metabolism
  • Exome Sequencing*
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Sphingolipids / metabolism*

Substances

  • FOXH1 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Sphingolipids