Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan
Rationale : PTSD is associated with changes in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway. We hypothesized that altered functioning of the GR pathway is already present before development of PTSD and thus represents a biological vulnerability factor for the development of PTSD. Therefore, we investiga...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2012-09-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1818487384081170432 |
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| author | Mirjam van Zuiden Elbert Geuze Eric Vermetten Annemieke Kavelaars Cobi Heijnen |
| author_facet | Mirjam van Zuiden Elbert Geuze Eric Vermetten Annemieke Kavelaars Cobi Heijnen |
| author_sort | Mirjam van Zuiden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rationale : PTSD is associated with changes in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway. We hypothesized that altered functioning of the GR pathway is already present before development of PTSD and thus represents a biological vulnerability factor for the development of PTSD. Therefore, we investigated the predictive value of several GR pathway components for the development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. Methods : We included a cohort of 1,032 Dutch soldiers prior to deployment to Afghanistan. GR pathway components were assessed in blood collected prior to deployment. PTSD symptoms were assessed 6 months after return. Results : A high GR number, high GILZ mRNA expression, and low FKBP5 mRNA expression in leukocytes prior to deployment were independently associated with development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. In addition, sensitivity of T-cells for regulation by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone was associated with development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. However, the direction of the association between dexamethasone-sensitivity and PTSD depended on the presence of co-morbid depressive symptoms. Conclusions : Altered functioning of the GR pathway in leukocytes is a vulnerability factor for development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. The identification of such biological vulnerability factors for PTSD could facilitate the selection of individuals for preventive treatment within groups at risk for trauma-exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:37:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-336c97df4eb8440eb3108cd506555a5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T16:37:05Z |
| publishDate | 2012-09-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-336c97df4eb8440eb3108cd506555a5e2022-12-22T01:41:23ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662012-09-01301110.3402/ejpt.v3i0.19470Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to AfghanistanMirjam van ZuidenElbert GeuzeEric VermettenAnnemieke KavelaarsCobi HeijnenRationale : PTSD is associated with changes in the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway. We hypothesized that altered functioning of the GR pathway is already present before development of PTSD and thus represents a biological vulnerability factor for the development of PTSD. Therefore, we investigated the predictive value of several GR pathway components for the development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. Methods : We included a cohort of 1,032 Dutch soldiers prior to deployment to Afghanistan. GR pathway components were assessed in blood collected prior to deployment. PTSD symptoms were assessed 6 months after return. Results : A high GR number, high GILZ mRNA expression, and low FKBP5 mRNA expression in leukocytes prior to deployment were independently associated with development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. In addition, sensitivity of T-cells for regulation by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone was associated with development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. However, the direction of the association between dexamethasone-sensitivity and PTSD depended on the presence of co-morbid depressive symptoms. Conclusions : Altered functioning of the GR pathway in leukocytes is a vulnerability factor for development of high levels of PTSD symptoms. The identification of such biological vulnerability factors for PTSD could facilitate the selection of individuals for preventive treatment within groups at risk for trauma-exposure.PTSDglucocorticoid receptorFKBP5dexamethasonebiomarkervulnerabilitymilitary |
| spellingShingle | Mirjam van Zuiden Elbert Geuze Eric Vermetten Annemieke Kavelaars Cobi Heijnen Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan European Journal of Psychotraumatology PTSD glucocorticoid receptor FKBP5 dexamethasone biomarker vulnerability military |
| title | Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan |
| title_full | Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan |
| title_fullStr | Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan |
| title_short | Altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of PTSD symptomatology in response to military deployment to Afghanistan |
| title_sort | altered functioning of the glucocorticoid receptor pathway is a vulnerability factor for development of ptsd symptomatology in response to military deployment to afghanistan |
| topic | PTSD glucocorticoid receptor FKBP5 dexamethasone biomarker vulnerability military |
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