The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide system as a sex-specific modulator of hippocampal response to threat stimuli
Background: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptor gene polymorphism has been postulated as a potential sex-specific diagnostic biomarker of trauma-related disorders. However, no research to date has evaluated whether the PACAPergic system may act as a vulnerability/resi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Inc.
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View Fulltext in Publisher |
| Summary: | Background: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptor gene polymorphism has been postulated as a potential sex-specific diagnostic biomarker of trauma-related disorders. However, no research to date has evaluated whether the PACAPergic system may act as a vulnerability/resilience neuromechanism to trauma-induced psychopathology in healthy participants without heightened risk to experience traumatic events. Methods: Here, we compared the amygdala and hippocampus response to fearful faces in participants with at-risk genotype versus non-risk participants from the Human Connectome Project (n = 991; 53.4% female). Results: Increased hippocampal response to fearful faces in the female risk group emerged in sex by genetic risk interaction. Conclusions: Our findings revealed the first sex-specific neurogenetic vulnerability factor to trauma-related disorders, and emphasize the importance of prevention-based strategies to ameliorate neuropsychiatric pathophysiology. © 2022 The Authors |
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| ISBN: | 23522895 (ISSN) |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100448 |