Relationship between the effect of modified electroconvulsive therapy and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) gene polymorphism in patients with major depressive disorder

Objective:To explore the relation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)polymorphisms with the response to modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT)in patients with major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods:In this study,110 patients with major depression were selected according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth Edition criteria,and 100 healthy person were used as controls.The patients received MECT 8 times consecutively and were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale for Depression(HRSD).Using direct sequencing after polymerase chain reaction(PCR),the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)of the BDNF gene rs6265,rs7103411 were identified.And the BDNF gene rs6265,rs7103411 genotype and allele frequency were counted.Results:Neither of these BDNF polymorphisms had significant differences between the healthy controls and depressive patients.And the two single nucleotide polymorphism sites were not associated with the response to MECT.In addition,no significant differences were found in the genotypes concerning the MECT response and allele of rs7103411.However,the significant differences in the A allele frequency of rs6265 were found,and the frequencies of A and G allele were respectively 47.9% and 52.1% in reducing rates≥50% group,27.5% and 72.5% in reducing rates25% group(P0.05).The data showed a significant positive correlation between frequencies of A allele and MECT curative effect(OR=1.740,95% CI=1.022~2.963).Conclusion:The rs6265 site A allele of BDNF gene may be relevant with the therapeutic efficacy of MECT in patients with major depressive disorder.The A allele carriers may have better efficacy of MECT than the G allele carriers.