ACE polymorphism affects therapeutic outcome in depressed women.

2004 AUG 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme gene affects the outcome of antidepressant therapy in women, but not men, researchers report.

"Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), where its primary function comprises degradation of neuropeptides including substance P (SP). Because of the possible antidepressant effects of SP antagonists, the influence of SP on both pathophysiology and mitigation of depression has been hypothesized," wrote T.C. Baghai and colleagues, University of Munich.

Concentration of ACE in plasma "is determined by an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism represented by the presence or absence of a 287 by DNA fragment within the ACE gene. Because the D allele was associated with higher ACE levels, this may have a positive impact on the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant treatment. Thus, variations in CNS expression of ACE might influence the response to various antidepressant therapies," the researchers said.

"We could show a divergent clinical outcome in relation to different genotypes in 313 depressed patients who were treated with various antidepressants. A lower HAM-D17 score after 4 weeks of treatment in D/D and I/D in comparison to I/I genotypes was detected; the duration of hospitalization was shorter in D allele carriers," Baghai and colleagues reported, noting, "The D allele seems to ...