ease of feeling depressed

• Easily depressed mood means a tendency to lose joy and self-esteem.In Japan, the lifetime prevalence of depression is reported to be 6 in 100 people (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 2021).
• C-type mutation in DNA region rs7242036A study at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found that people with
• The prevalence of type CC among Japanese people is6.0%This is a low percentage compared to the global average of 14.2%.

Overview People who are prone to depression often experience a loss of joy, self-esteem, empathy, and interest in life, and as a result, they tend to be more stressed and at higher risk for depression. In Japan, research shows that the prevalence of depression is extremely high, with 6 out of 100 people experiencing it over their lifetime (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, ``White Paper on Measures to Prevent Death from Overwork'', 2021). The causes of depression are complex and are thought to involve both genetic factors and acquired susceptibility. Acquired susceptibility can be caused by environmental factors such as social or psychological stress. However, depression is also common in families, and people with a family history of depression have been shown to be at higher risk. Ways to reduce your risk of developing depression include finding ways to manage your stress, seeking help from family and friends, and seeking treatment early. It is also useful to use genetic testing to determine trends in the incidence of depression depending on your genetic type. 2. Rationale A collaborative study was conducted in 2019 between a university in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the Public Health Research Institute. This study examined SNPs in 80,000 people. SNP refers to slight differences in genetic information between individuals, and refers to single nucleotide polymorphism. The results uncovered multiple DNA regions associated with life satisfaction, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms. Similar analysis of gene expression in brain tissue and cells showed that genes differentially expressed in the hippocampal formation (part of the limbic system) and GABAergic interneurons influence the happiness spectrum (Reference link 1). One of the SNPs discovered in this research is "rs7242036." This "rs7242036" is present on chromosome 18. Of the four base components of DNA: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), cytosine (C) is replaced by guanine (G). Genotypes can also be classified into three types: CC type, CG type, and GG type. Among East Asian people, "CC type," "CG type," and "GG type" account for 6.76%, 38.48%, and 60.84%, respectively, and among them, there are a large number of people with "GG type" (Reference link 2). 3. Mechanism of action The DNA region rs7242036 is close to the gene CELF4, which encodes a neuron RNA binding protein. This gene is one of the important genes associated with neurological disorders and depression. A study conducted in China in 2022 reported that the expression levels of CELF4 protein and mRNA in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were decreased in depression model mice. Furthermore, when we disrupted the expression of CELF4 in the PFC, mice exhibited depression-like behavior. This suggests that the gene "CELF4" influences "depression-like behavior" in mice (Reference link 3).

Depression refers to the tendency to lose joy, self-esteem, empathy, and interest in life.People with a strong tendency to do so tend to accumulate stress and have a higher risk of developing depression.

Relationship between the prevalence of depression and genetic factors

In Japan6 out of 100 peopleThere are research results that show that people experience depression throughout their lives (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, "White Paper on Measures to Prevent Death from Overwork," 2021). The cause of depression is related to the following two factors:

• Genetic factors:Depression often runs in families, and people with a family history of depression are at increased risk
• Environmental factors:Effects of acquired susceptibility such as social and psychological stress

How to reduce depression risk

The following three methods are effective in reducing the risk of developing depression.

• Stress management:Learn coping strategies to control stress
• Social support:ask family and friends for help
• Early treatment:Receive treatment as soon as symptoms appear

In addition, genetic testing to find out the tendency of the incidence of depression depending on your genetic type can also be useful for prevention.

Comparison of genetic and environmental factors

Relationship between DNA region rs7242036 and ease of feeling depressed

Public Health Research with Baselmans et al. at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2019 A joint study by the Institute revealed that the tendency to feel depressed is associated with the DNA region rs7242036.

• In this studySNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) for 80,000 peoplewas investigated
• Multiple DNA regions associated with life satisfaction, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms discovered
• Genes expressed in the hippocampal formation and GABAergic interneurons were shown to influence the happiness spectrum (Reference link 1)

Characteristics of DNA region rs7242036

• chromosome18thexists in
• The base component cytosine (C) is replaced with guanine (G)
• The genotype is"CC type" "CG type" "GG type"can be classified into three types:
• Genotype with type C mutation(CC type/CG type) people tend to have a higher risk of depression

Comparison of genotype distribution in Japanese and the world (rs7242036)

The prevalence of type C mutation in Japanese people (CC+CG) is43.0%, which is lower than the global average of 61.1%. On the other hand, the percentage of Japanese people with type GG is56.9%This is approximately 1.5 times higher than the world average of 38.7%, reflecting the genetic characteristics of the Japanese population.

Relationship between DNA region rs2279681 and ease of feeling depressed

In addition to rs7242036,rs2279681has also been identified as a genetic region related to susceptibility to feeling depressed.

Comparison of genotype distribution in Japanese and the world (rs2279681)

Impact of CELF4 gene on depression

The DNA region ``rs7242036'' is close to the gene ``CELF4,'' which encodes a neuron RNA binding protein.This gene is one of the important genes associated with neurological disorders and depression.

• In a study conducted in China in 2022, depression model miceprefrontal cortex (PFC)It was reported that the expression levels of CELF4 protein and mRNA were decreased in
• Interfering with the expression of "CELF4" in the PFC causes mice toDepression-like behaviorshowed
• This suggests that the gene "CELF4" influences depression-like behavior (Reference link 3)

Q1. What is ease of feeling depressed?

Depression refers to the tendency to lose joy, self-esteem, empathy, and interest in life.People with a strong tendency to do so tend to accumulate stress and have a higher risk of developing depression. Research shows that 6 out of 100 people in Japan will experience depression over their lifetime (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, ``White Paper on Measures to Prevent Death from Overwork'', 2021).

Q2. Is ease of feeling depressed related to genes?

Yes.Baselmans et al. and Public Health Research at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2019 A joint study by the Institute found that the DNA region rs7242036 is associated with susceptibility to feeling depressed.As a result of investigating SNPs in 80,000 people, it was found that people with the genotype C mutation tend to have a higher risk of depression.

Q3. What is the distribution of the genotype related to ease of feeling depressed (rs7242036) in Japanese people?

The genotype distribution of rs7242036 in Japanese people isCC type 6.0%, CG type 37.0%, GG type 56.9%It is. Worldwide, 14.2% of people have type CC, 46.9% have type CG, and 38.7% have type GG, and the proportion of Japanese people with type GG is about 1.5 times higher than the world average.

Q4. How is the CELF4 gene related to depression?

CELF4 is a gene encoding a neuronal RNA binding proteinand is close to the DNA region rs7242036. A 2022 Chinese study reported that the expression level of CELF4 was reduced in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of depression model mice, and that interfering with CELF4 expression exhibited depression-like behavior.

Q5. How can I prevent myself from feeling depressed easily?

The following three methods are valid. ①Learn coping methods to control stressto do, ②ask family and friends for helpThat, ③receive early treatmentThings. In addition, genetic testing to find out the tendency of the incidence of depression depending on your genetic type can also be useful for prevention.