An epistasis between dopaminergic and oxytocinergic systems confers risk of post-traumatic stress disorder in a traumatized Chinese cohort.

Zhang K, Li G, Wang L, Cao C, Fang R, Luo S, Liu P, Zhang XY

Scientific reports17 Dec 2019Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID31848444PMCIDPMC6917732DOI10.1038/s41598-019-55936-8PepBankPUB-31848444

Summary

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric syndrome that occurs after trauma exposure. Neurotransmitters such as dopamine and oxytocin have been reported to be involved in neuropathology of PTSD. Previous studies indicated that the dopamine-oxytocin interaction may contribute to behavioral disorders. Thus, exploring the epistasis (gene-gene interaction) between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems might be useful to reveal the genetic basis of PTSD. In this study, we analyzed two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2268498 for oxytocinergic gene OXTR and rs1801028 for dopaminergic gene DRD2 based on putative oxytocin receptor-dopamine receptor D2 (OTR-DR2) heterocomplex in a Chinese cohort exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (156 PTSD cases and 978 controls). Statistical analyses did not find any single variant or gene-environment interaction (SNP × earthquake-related trauma exposure) associated with provisional PTSD diagnosis or symptoms. An OXTR-DRD2 interaction (rs2268498 × rs1801028) was identified to confer risk of provisional PTSD diagnosis (OR = 9.18, 95% CI = 3.07-27.46 and P = 7.37e-05) and further subset analysis indicated that rs2268498 genotypes controlled the association directions of rs1801028 and rs1801028 genotypes also controlled the association directions of rs2268498. Rs2268498 × rs1801028 is also associated with PTSD symptoms (P = 0.043). Our study uncovered a genetic and putative function-based contribution of dopaminergic-oxytocinergic system interaction to PTSD.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

01HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneObservational studyOther
In a Chinese cohort exposed to an earthquake, no single OXTR or DRD2 variant was associated with provisional PTSD diagnosis or symptoms.
In plain wordsIn a Chinese earthquake-exposed group, no single variant in the oxytocin receptor or dopamine receptor gene was linked to PTSD.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAssociation of single OXTR or DRD2 variants with PTSD
Study
n = 1,134
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
Statistical analyses did not find any single variant or gene-environment interaction (SNP × earthquake-related trauma exposure) associated with provisional PTSD diagnosis or symptoms.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we analyzed two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2268498 for oxytocinergic gene OXTR and rs1801028 for dopaminergic gene DRD2 based on putative oxytocin receptor-dopamine receptor D2 (OTR-DR2) heterocomplex in a Chinese cohort exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (156 PTSD cases and 978 controls).
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184844401
02HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneObservational studyOther
In a Chinese cohort exposed to an earthquake, an OXTR rs2268498 by DRD2 rs1801028 interaction was associated with higher risk of provisional PTSD diagnosis.
In plain wordsIn a Chinese earthquake-exposed group, a combination of oxytocin receptor and dopamine receptor gene variants was linked to higher PTSD risk.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOXTR-DRD2 interaction and provisional PTSD diagnosis
Study
n = 1,134
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Measurements
Odds ratio
9.18
rs2268498 x rs1801028
95% CI
3.07 to 27.46
rs2268498 x rs1801028
Source sentences
Summary
An OXTR-DRD2 interaction (rs2268498 × rs1801028) was identified to confer risk of provisional PTSD diagnosis (OR = 9.18, 95% CI = 3.07-27.46 and P = 7.37e-05)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we analyzed two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2268498 for oxytocinergic gene OXTR and rs1801028 for dopaminergic gene DRD2 based on putative oxytocin receptor-dopamine receptor D2 (OTR-DR2) heterocomplex in a Chinese cohort exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (156 PTSD cases and 978 controls).
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184844402
03HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneObservational studyOther
In a Chinese cohort exposed to an earthquake, the OXTR rs2268498 by DRD2 rs1801028 interaction was also associated with PTSD symptoms.
In plain wordsIn a Chinese earthquake-exposed group, the same gene variant combination was also linked to PTSD symptoms.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOXTR-DRD2 interaction and PTSD symptoms
Study
n = 1,134
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
Rs2268498 × rs1801028 is also associated with PTSD symptoms (P = 0.043).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study, we analyzed two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2268498 for oxytocinergic gene OXTR and rs1801028 for dopaminergic gene DRD2 based on putative oxytocin receptor-dopamine receptor D2 (OTR-DR2) heterocomplex in a Chinese cohort exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (156 PTSD cases and 978 controls).
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3184844403

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Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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