Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Department of Genetic Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2019 Mar;269(2):209-221. doi: 10.1007/s00406-018-0944-9. Epub 2018 Oct 5.
Recent translational studies identified a common endocannabinoid polymorphism, FAAH C385A, in the gene for the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). This polymorphism alters endocannabinoid anandamide levels, which are known to be involved in the fronto-amygdala circuitry implicated in mood regulation and anxiety-like behaviors. While it has been shown that the variant that selectively enhances fronto-amygdala connectivity at rest is associated with decreased anxiety-like behaviors, no study so far has investigated whether this finding of FAAH-related differential plasticity extends to task-related differential functional expression and regulation during negative emotional processing. Using an imaging genetics approach, this study aimed to replicate and extend prior findings by examining functional activity and task-related connectivity in fronto-amygdala regions during emotion reactivity and emotional down-regulation of negative affect. Therefore, 48 healthy young adults underwent a functional MRI resting state measurement, completed an emotion regulation paradigm and provided self-reports on anxiety and use of emotion regulation strategies. In line with previous studies, preliminary evidence suggests that A-allele carriers demonstrate stronger fronto-amygdala connectivity during rest. In addition, exploratory whole-brain analyses indicate differential functional activity of A-allele carriers during emotion reactivity and emotion regulation. There were no associations with anxiety-related self-reports and use of emotional regulation strategies. Further research using larger samples and polygenic approaches is indicated to clarify the precise role and its underlying mechanisms in emotion processing.
最近的转化研究发现，脂肪酸酰胺水解酶（FAAH）基因中的常见内源性大麻素多态性 FAAH C385A。这种多态性改变了内源性大麻素大麻素的水平，已知其参与调节情绪和焦虑样行为的额-杏仁核回路。虽然已经表明，选择性增强静息状态下额-杏仁核连接的变体与焦虑样行为减少有关，但迄今为止，没有研究调查 FAAH 相关差异可塑性的这一发现是否扩展到负性情绪处理过程中的任务相关差异功能表达和调节。本研究采用影像学遗传学方法，通过检查情绪反应和情绪消极调节期间额-杏仁核区域的功能活动和任务相关连接，旨在复制和扩展先前的发现。因此，48 名健康的年轻成年人接受了功能磁共振成像静息状态测量，完成了情绪调节范式，并对焦虑和情绪调节策略的使用进行了自我报告。与先前的研究一致，初步证据表明，A 等位基因携带者在静息状态下表现出更强的额-杏仁核连接。此外，探索性全脑分析表明，A 等位基因携带者在情绪反应和情绪调节期间表现出不同的功能活动。与焦虑相关的自我报告和情绪调节策略的使用没有关联。需要进一步使用更大的样本和多基因方法进行研究，以阐明其在情绪处理中的精确作用及其潜在机制。
