PTSDgene database

Pathway Enrichment Analysis Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Study Report

Study Information

Basic Info

Reference	Wilker, S.,2013 PMID: 23582269
Citation	Wilker, S., et al. (2013). "The role of memory-related gene WWC1 (KIBRA) in lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder: evidence from two independent samples from African conflict regions." Biol Psychiatry 74(9): 664-671.
Phenotype	Current PTSD, PTSD diagnosis, PDS intrusions score, PDS hyperarousal score
Trauma	Rwandan genocide, the rebel war in Northern Uganda
Study Design	Cross-sectional study
Study Type	Candidate gene association study
Sample Size	Rwandan Sample: 172 cases and 220 controls, Ugandan Sample: 40 cases and 359 controls
SNP/Marker Size	115 SNPs
Predominant Ethnicity	Black
Population	Rwanda,Uganda
Gender	Rwandan Sample: 198 males and 194 females, Ugandan Sample: 196 males and 213 females
Age	Rwandan Sample: mean age=34.62 years, SD=5.89, Ugandan Sample: mean age=32.27 years, SD=11.83

Detail Info

Sample Diagnosis	DSM-IV-TR
Related Diagnostic Tools	Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), depression section of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-D), traumatic load was estimated by assessing the number of traumatic event types experienced (i.e., combat experiences, injuries by weapon, rape) by means of a 36-item event checklist. This event list, which was initially applied to the Rwandan sample, was extended by 26 items to include several atrocities specific to the LRA. Trained local interviewers and expert psychologists in the field of trauma from the Universities of Ulm and Konstanz conducted the diagnostic interviews.
Sample Status	Inclusion criteria were (1) a diagnosis of PTSD according to DSM-IV, (2) age between 18 and 65, (3) absence of any signs of alcohol or substance dependence, (4) absence of psychotic symptoms, (5) no psychotropic medication and (6) no prior trauma-focused psychotherapy.
Controls Exposed	NA
Replication Size	None
Result Summary	An association of two neighboring SNPs in almost complete linkage disequilibrium, rs10038727 and rs4576167, with lifetime PTSD was discovered in the Rwandan sample. Although each traumatic event added to the probability of lifetime PTSD in a dose-dependent manner in both genotype groups, carriers of the minor allele of both SNPs displayed a diminished risk (P-value= 0.007, odds ratio= 0.29 [95% confidence interval= 0.15-0.54]). This effect was confirmed in the independent Ugandan sample. This study reveals an association between two WWC1 SNPs and the likelihood of PTSD development, indicating that this memory-related gene might be involved in processes that occur in response to traumatic stress and influence the strengthening of fear memories.
Potential Biomarker	None

Genetic result reported by this study

Normal genetic result reported by this study (count: 8)

Marker	Phenotype	Related Gene	Statistical Values	Author Comments	Marker's Category
rs4576167	PTSD diagnosis	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: nominal association P-value=0.000075	Remain significant after correcting for multiple comparisons...... Remain significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. Minor allele carriers of rs4576167 displayed a reduced risk toward lifetime PTSD development. More...	Significant
rs4576167	PDS intrusion score	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: no detail information, In the Ugandan sample: Exclusion of one outlier: LR= 5.35, P-value= 0.02	The SNP has a significant association with the PDS intrusion...... The SNP has a significant association with the PDS intrusion score. More...	Significant
rs10038727	PDS intrusion score	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: did not survive multiple comparison correction, In the Ugandan sample: Exclusion of one outlier: LR= 5.07, P-value= 0.02	The SNP has a significant association with the PDS intrusion...... The SNP has a significant association with the PDS intrusion score. More...	Significant
rs10038727	Current PTSD	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: no detail information, In the Ugandan sample: LR= 4.58, P-value= 0.03, OR= 0.31 [95% CI= 0.10-0.99]	In the Ugandan sample, an strong association of the SNP wit...... In the Ugandan sample, an strong association of the SNP with current PTSD was observed. More...	Significant
rs4576167	Current PTSD	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: did not survive multiple comparison correction, In the Ugandan sample: LR= 4.64, P-value= 0.03, OR= 0.30 [95% CI = 0.10-0.99]	In the Ugandan sample, an strong association of the SNP wit...... In the Ugandan sample, an strong association of the SNP with current PTSD was observed. More...	Significant
rs10038727	PTSD diagnosis	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: nominal association P-value=0.000075	Remain significant after correcting for multiple comparisons...... Remain significant after correcting for multiple comparisons. Minor allele carriers of rs10038727 displayed a reduced risk toward lifetime PTSD development. More...	Significant
rs4576167	PDS hyperarousal score	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: no detail information, In the Ugandan sample: Exclusion of one outlier: LR= 5.52, P-value= 0.02	The SNP has a significant association with the PDS hyperarou...... The SNP has a significant association with the PDS hyperarousal score. More...	Significant
rs10038727	PDS hyperarousal score	WWC1	In Rwandan Sample: no detail information, In the Ugandan sample: Exclusion of one outlier: LR= 5.24, P-value= 0.02	The SNP has a significant association with the PDS hyperarou...... The SNP has a significant association with the PDS hyperarousal score. More...	Significant