Association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism with depression

Objective To explore the association among the depression,symptom phnotypes and polymorphism MTHFR C677T in the Han Chinese.Methods MTHFR C677T was determined using a PCR-based technique.MTHFR was genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism in 100 patients affected by depression and 100 unrelated controls.The symptom phenotype of cases was evaluated applying the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression(HAMD).Results There were three kinds of genotype: homozygous mutation(TT), heterozygous mutation(TC), wide-type(CC). There was significant difference in the frequencies of genotype and alleles between two groups(χ2=8.72,P<0.05;χ2=8.62,P<0.05).Meanwhile,among the males,a trend was observed toward an excess of MTHFR T/T (25.0% vs 6.3% )in patients and excess of MTHFR C/C in controls(55.3% vs 25.0%)(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in three genotypes distribution among symptom phenotypes of cases(P＞0.05).Conclusion There is an association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and depression. The findings raise the possibility that MTHFR C677T polymorphism may exert differential effects based on gender. There is no association among MTHFR C677T polymorphism and symptom phenotypes of depression. Key words: Depression ;  Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene ;  Polymorphism ;