Chromosome 9: linkage for borderline personality disorder features

Abstract

Objective A large-scale twin study implicated genetic influences on borderline personality disorder (BPD) features, with a heritability estimate of 42%. To date, no genome-wide linkage study has been conducted to identify the genomic region(s) containing the quantitative trait loci that influence the manifestation of BPD features.Methods We conducted a family-based linkage study using Merlin regress. The participating families were drawn from the community-based Netherlands Twin Register. The sample consisted of 711 sibling pairs with phenotype and genotype data, and 561 additional parents with genotype data. BPD features were assessed on a quantitative scale.Results Evidence for linkage was found on chromosomes 1, 4, 9, and 18. The highest linkage peak was found on chromosome 9p at marker D9S286 with a logarithm of odds score of 3.548 (empirical P = 0.0001).Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first linkage study on BPD features and shows that chromosome 9 is the richest candidate for genes influencing BPD.The results of this study will move the field closer to determining the genetic etiology of BPD and may have important implications for treatment programs in the future. Association studies in this region are, however, warranted to detect the actual genes.

Developmental Pathways to Borderline Personality Disorder

“…Multivariate modeling indicates that there is likely to be a single common genetic factor reflecting vulnerability to PD pathology and/or negative emotionality, and two other genetic factors reflecting high impulsivity/low agreeableness and introversion [13]. A genome-wide linkage study found chromosome 9 to be the most likely candidate for genes influencing BPD [16], but no specific genes have been identified.…”

Heritability and Genome-Wide Linkage Scan of Subjective Happiness

“…Although happiness is often seen as the counterpart of depression, the regions with suggestive linkage for happiness have not been reported for depression so far (e.g., Middeldorp et al, 2008). Furthermore the regions on chromosome 1 and 19 have also not been suggested in a linkage scan for borderline personality disorder features (Distel et al 2008) and a linkage scan for Neuroticism (Wray et al, 2008). A next step would be to run a genome wide association analyses for happiness.…”

Oxytocin Receptor Gene Variation and Differential Susceptibility to Family Environment in Predicting Youth Borderline Symptoms

“…Indeed, a recent twin study indicated that an underlying latent trait of borderline pathology was about 51% heritable and 49% due to unique environmental effects (Distel et al, 2010; see also Distel et al, 2011;Distel, Hottenga, Trull, & Boomsma, 2008). It is assumed that particular heritable traits, such as impulsivity and affect instability, contribute to BPD phenomena, but it is not yet clear what other trait markers may be relevant (Paris, 2009).…”