Investigators publish new data in the report 'Association analysis of Rgs7 variants with panic disorder.' "Following our recent finding of Rgs2 playing a role in the development of human panic disorder (PD), we examine another positional and functional candidate from the functionally interwoven Rgs (regulator of G-protein signaling) family, Rgs7, in the pathogenesis of PD. A German PD sample (N=224) was compared with matched controls (N=224) for seven SNPs within and flanking the gene," researchers in Muenster, Germany report (see also Panic Disorder).

"The intronic SNP3 (rs11805657) and its corresponding haplotypes were found to be associated with PD, particularly PD with comorbid agoraphobia (PDAgP), with the effect originating from the female subgroup (P values 0.008-0.047). The rare A-allele was underrepresented in patients, suggesting a protective effect with carriers possessing an about 2-fold lower risk for developing the disorder compared to G/G homozygotes," wrote C. Hohoff and colleagues, University of Munster, Department of Psychiatry.

The researchers concluded: "Our results argue against a major role of Rgs7 gene variants in the pathogenesis of PD, but are consistent with a minor gender-specific effect on PD, particularly PDAgP."

Hohoff and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Neural Transmission (Association analysis of Rgs7 variants with panic disorder. Journal of Neural Transmission, 2009;116(11):1523-8).

For additional information, contact C. Hohoff, University of Muenster, Dept. of Psychiatry, Muenster, Germany.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Neural Transmission is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.