MMP 9 Gene Polymorphism Increases Depression risk in Bipolar Disorder patients

Bipolar disorder, commonly referred to as manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). The prevalence of bipolar disorder (BD) is increasing and a disturbed neural development and neural plasticity which involve alteration in the regulation of neurotrophic factors are postulated to be involved in the development of bipolar diorder. Several medications are under investigation to treat the same.

Plasticity of neural synapses is known to be involved in the complications in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a role in synaptic plasticity and memory. Even though elevated MMP-9 levels are reported in neuropsychiatric disorders, there is limited data about MMP-9 gene polymorphism in bipolar disorder.

A study which conducted at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry (JIPMER), India, on 80 patients with Bipolar disease and having 80 controls, where Matrix metalloproteinases -9 genotyping and allele frequency and plasma Matrix metalloproteinases - 9 levels were analyzed in both the groups. This indicated that MMP-9 gene polymorphism is linked with depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder.

To conclude, this study should actually encourage molecular biologist in India and across the globe who are doing similar studies including Matrix metalloproteinases and bipolar disorder to further investigate signaling pathways as it surely opens up potential possibilities for further molecular investigations to identify drug targets which can positively contribute towards the treatment of bipolar disorder in patients.

Reference: Saravanan K, Keshri N, Nandeesha H, Menon V, Goud AC. Matrixmetalloproteinase-9 gene polymorphism (rs 17576) increases the risk of depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder. J Neurosci Rural Pract, doi: 10.25259/JNRP-2022-6-34