Abstract
We conducted a case-control study to investigate the effects of genetics and gene-environment interactions on major depressive disorders (MDD) in the Chinese population. Using targeted-exome sequencing, we included 984 patients with MDD and 508 healthy controls in our study. A logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and MDD. Additionally, a linear regression model was utilized to examine the associations between (1) gene-environment interaction and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, (2) SNPs and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese version, and gene-environment interaction and the Beck scale for suicide ideation-Chinese version. The association analysis between SNPs and MDD revealed that the following loci reached genome-wide significance: rs2305554 of the cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit, rs9459173 of synaptojanin 2, rs372369000 of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 6, rs866666526 of dopa decarboxylase, rs1254882194 of calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase ID, rs199880487 of reelin, rs1167948188 of reelin, rs1390140186 of QKI, KH domain containing RNA binding, and rs1776342 of period circadian regulator 3. The association analysis between SNPs and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese version indicated that rs264272 and rs1774784888 of piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 2 reached genome-wide significance. These findings may enhance our understanding of MDD and contribute to the development of new potential targets for its diagnosis and treatment.