A polymorphism in the Crhr1 gene determines stress vulnerability in male mice

Endocrinology. 2014 Jul;155(7):2500-10. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1986. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Abstract

Chronic stress is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders but does not necessarily lead to uniform long-term effects on mental health, suggesting modulating factors such as genetic predispositions. Here we address the question whether natural genetic variations in the mouse CRH receptor 1 (Crhr1) locus modulate the effects of adolescent chronic social stress (ACSS) on long-term stress hormone dysregulation in outbred CD1 mice, which allows a better understanding of the currently reported genes × environment interactions of early trauma and CRHR1 in humans. We identified 2 main haplotype variants in the mouse Crhr1 locus that modulate the long-term effects of ACSS on basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. This effect is likely mediated by higher levels of CRHR1, because Crhr1 mRNA expression and CRHR1 binding were enhanced in risk haplotype carriers. Furthermore, a CRHR1 receptor antagonist normalized these long-term effects. Deep sequencing of the Crhr1 locus in CD1 mice revealed a large number of linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms with some located in important regulatory regions, similar to the location of human CRHR1 variants implicated in modulating gene × stress exposure interactions. Our data support that the described gene × stress exposure interaction in this animal model is based on naturally occurring genetic variations in the Crhr1 gene associated with enhanced CRHR1-mediated signaling. Our results suggest that patients with a specific genetic predisposition in the CRHR1 gene together with an exposure to chronic stress may benefit from a treatment selectively antagonizing CRHR1 hyperactivity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Corticosterone / blood
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Frequency
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / metabolism
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / genetics*
  • Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / metabolism
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Stress, Psychological / genetics*
  • Triazines / pharmacology

Substances

  • DMP 696
  • Pyrazoles
  • Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Triazines
  • CRF receptor type 1
  • Corticosterone