Research paperInteractions between the vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphism and life events in susceptibility to major depressive disorder in a Chinese population

•First study to explore relationship between VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism and MDD.•First study to explore interaction of VEGF gene and life events in MDD patients.•Interaction of VEGF rs2010963 and life events increases the risk of developing MDD.•People with CC, CG were susceptible to MDD when underwent high-negative life event.

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in the development of major depressive disorder. The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism (+405 G/C, rs2010963) and negative life events in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsDNA genotyping was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes in 274 patients with MDD and 273 age-and sex-matched controls. The frequency and severity of negative life events were assessed by the Life Events Scale (LES). A logistics method was employed to assess the gene-environment interaction (G×E).ResultsDifferences in rs2010963 genotype distributions were observed between MDD patients and controls. Significant G×E interactions between allelic variation of rs2010963 and negative life events were observed. Individuals carrying the C alleles were susceptible to MDD only when exposed to high-negative life events.ConclusionsThese results indicate that interactions between the VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism and environment increases the risk of developing MDD.