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Contribution of NTRK2 to the genetic susceptibility to anorexia nervosa, Harm avoidance and minimum body mass index

Molecular Psychiatry volume 10, pages 851–860 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are eating disorders (ED) with complex genetic and environmental components. Genetic studies and animal models support the participation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the vulnerability to AN and BN. We investigated the genetic contribution of the BDNF-specific receptor neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (NTRK2) to the susceptibility to ED. We have screened the entire NTRK2 gene in 91 patients with ED and have identified 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A population-based association study with six SNPs from the NTRK2 locus was performed in 164 ED patients and 121 controls. Significant evidence of association for markers –69C>G and IVS13+40G>A was detected. We also observed a strong association between the C-A-insC haplotype (–69/IVS13+40/2784–2785) and binge-eating/purging AN (ANP, P=0.006; OR=2.27), and a reduced frequency of haplotype G-A-delCl in BN patients (P=0.034; OR=0.6). The analysis of ED-related phenotypes revealed a clear association between NTRK2, high scores of Harm avoidance measured by the temperament and character inventory (TCI-R; P=0.003) and minimum body mass index (minBMI; P<0.001). Our data support a contribution of NTRK2 to the genetic susceptibility of ED, mainly ANP, and ED-related phenotypic traits, such as Harm avoidance and minBMI.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the patients for participation in the study. Financial support was received from the ‘Psychiatry Genetics network (G03/184), ‘Instituto de Salut Carlos III—FIS’, the ‘Departament d'Universitats i Societat de la informació, Generalitat de Catalunya’ and ‘Genoma España’ (CEGEN). Marta Ribases was recipient of a BEFI fellowship from the FIS (Spanish Ministry of Health).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genes and Disease Program, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    M Ribases, M Gratacos & X Estivill

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Princeps d'Espanya, Ciutat Sanitaria Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    A Badia, L Jimenez, R Solano, J Vallejo & F Fernandez-Aranda

  3. Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    X Estivill

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  1. M Ribases
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Ribases, M., Gratacos, M., Badia, A. et al. Contribution of NTRK2 to the genetic susceptibility to anorexia nervosa, Harm avoidance and minimum body mass index. Mol Psychiatry 10, 851–860 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001670

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