Haplotype analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) gene and antidepressant treatment response in major depressive disorder

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in neurotrophy and neurogenesis, which play a pivotal role in brain development and may be involved in antidepressant therapeutic mechanisms. Recent animal studies demonstrate that VEGF levels are increased by several antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and that VEGF signalling is required for antidepressant-induced behavioural response. We hypothesized that common genetic variants in the VEGF gene (official gene name: VEGFA) may be associated with the therapeutic response to antidepressants in major depressive disorders (MDD). Seven VEGFA polymorphisms were genotyped in 351 patients with MDD who were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine or citalopram) antidepressants and who were were studied in a therapeutic evaluation for at least 4 weeks. Of the 351 patients, 158 completed an 8-week therapeutic evaluation. No significant association with either 4-week or 8-week antidepressant therapeutic effect was shown in the alleles and genotypes of single loci, or haplotypes from two blocks constructed from these polymorphisms. Our findings suggested that VEGFA genetic variants do not play a major role in the response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.