PCLO rs2522833 impacts HPA system activity in healthy young adults

Recent genetic studies showed evidence for a role of the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs2522833 within the PCLO gene in the etiology of major depression, and rs2522833 has been shown to modulate hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity during antidepressant treatment. Monoaminergic modulation of the HPA system may be one possible pathomechanism by which PCLO exerts its effect on depression. In the present study, we investigated the effect of rs2522833 on the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in healthy young adults. A total of 66 healthy volunteers from the community (36 men and 30 women) aged 18–25 years without individual or family history of affective disorders and schizophrenia collected saliva cortisol samples at 0, 30, 45 and 60 min after awakening on two consecutive working days. We identified a blunted CAR (AUCinc) in rs2522833 risk-allele (C) carriers, possibly indicating exhausted regulatory mechanisms underlying the HPA system. We also identified higher neuroticism scores in rs2522833 risk-allele carriers but no phenotypic correlation between the CAR (AUCinc) and neuroticism. These findings suggest that the rs2522833 risk variant might increase vulnerability to depression both by physiological and behavioral pathways, which appear, however, not to be substantially overlapped. Replication with larger samples is warranted.