Genetic Polymorphism of GABRR2 Modulates Individuals' General Cognitive Ability in Healthy Chinese Han People

Zhe Ma; Binbin Niu; Zhangyan Shi; Junlin Li; Jian Wang; Fuchang Zhang; Xiaocai Gao; Kejin Zhang

doi:10.1007/s10571-016-0347-2

Genetic Polymorphism of GABRR2 Modulates Individuals' General Cognitive Ability in Healthy Chinese Han People

Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2017 Jan;37(1):93-100. doi: 10.1007/s10571-016-0347-2. Epub 2016 Feb 27.

Authors

Zhe Ma¹, Binbin Niu¹, Zhangyan Shi¹, Junlin Li¹, Jian Wang², Fuchang Zhang^{1

2}, Xiaocai Gao^{3

4

5}, Kejin Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Institute of Population and Health, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
² Department of Applied Psychology, Institute of Applied Psychology, College of Public Management, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Institute of Population and Health, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China. gaoxc@nwu.edu.cn.
⁴ Department of Applied Psychology, Institute of Applied Psychology, College of Public Management, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China. gaoxc@nwu.edu.cn.
⁵ School of Public Management, Institute of Application Psychology, Institute of Population and Health, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China. gaoxc@nwu.edu.cn.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), Institute of Population and Health, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China. zhangkj@nwu.edu.cn.

PMID: 26922432
DOI: 10.1007/s10571-016-0347-2

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that the cognitive impairment or deficit is associated with GABAergic signaling in central nervous system. Inspired by the finding that receptor GABRR2 modulates concentration of GABA and phasic inhibitory GABAergic transmission in brain. This study investigated to what extent a genetic variant (c.1423C>T, rs282129) of GABRR2 gene modulates individuals' general cognitive ability in 987 Chinese Han people. Results showed a significant influence of GABRR2 gene polymorphism on individuals' Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) performance (F = 3.58, P = .028 by ANOVA and χ ² = 9.35, P = .009 by K-W test, respectively), even if non-genetic factors were partialed out (gender, major, types of birthplace, and socioeconomic index) (B = -.67, SE = .26, t = 2.63, P = .009). The finding provided a strong evidence, to our knowledge, for the view that genetic variant of GABRR2 gene may contribute to the difference of individuals' general cognitive ability, independently.

Keywords: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA); General cognitive ability; Genetic variants; Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM).

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Asian People / genetics*
Cognition / physiology*
Cognition Disorders / epidemiology
Cognition Disorders / genetics*
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease / epidemiology
Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
Genetic Variation / genetics
Humans
Male
Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
Receptors, GABA-A / genetics*
Young Adult

Substances

GABRR2 protein, human
Receptors, GABA-A