Biology of bipolar disorder

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Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of manic (elevated) and depressed mood. While the exact cause and mechanism of bipolar disorder remains unknown, ongoing research focuses on uncovering its biological origins. Although no single gene has been identified as the cause, numerous genes are associated with an increased risk of developing the disorder. Gene-environment interactions are also believed to play a role in predisposing individuals to bipolar disorder.

Regions implicated in bipolar[1]

Neuroimaging and postmortem studies have identified abnormalities in several brain regions, with the ventral prefrontal cortex and amygdala being most frequently implicated. Dysfunction within the emotional circuits of these regions has been hypothesized as a potential mechanism underlying bipolar disorder.[2] Additionally, evidence points to abnormalities in neurotransmission, intracellular signaling, and cellular functioning as contributing factors.[3]

Research into bipolar disorder, particularly neuroimaging studies, faces challenges such as confounding effects of medication, comorbid conditions, and small sample sizes, which may result in underpowered studies and significant heterogeneity in findings.[4]

Genetic

Relative risk of bipolar and schizophrenia for probands[5]

The aetiology of bipolar disorder is unknown. The overall heritability of bipolar is estimated at 79%-93%, and first-degree relatives of bipolar probands have a relative risk of developing bipolar disorder of around 7–10. While the heritability is very high, no specific genes have been conclusively associated with bipolar disorder, and a number of hypotheses have been posited to explain this fact. "The polygenic common rare variant" hypothesis suggests that a large number of risk-conferring genes are carried in a population, and that a disease manifests when a person has a sufficient number of these genes. The "multiple rare variant" model suggests that multiple genes that are rare in the population are capable of causing a disease, and that carrying one or a few can lead to disease.[6] The familial transmission of mania and depression are largely independent of each other. This raises the possibility that bipolar is actually two biologically distinct but highly comorbid conditions.[7]

A number of genome wide associations have been reported, including CACNA1C[8] and ODZ4, and TRANK1.[9][10][11][12][13] Less consistently reported loci include ANK3 and NCAN, ITIH1, ITIH3 and NEK4. Significant overlaps with schizophrenia have been reported at CACNA1C, ITIH, ANK3, and ZNF804A. This overlap is congruent with the observation that relatives of probands with schizophrenia are at higher risk for bipolar disorder and vice versa.

In light of associations between bipolar and circadian abnormalities (such as decreased need for sleep and increased sleep latency), polymorphisms in the CLOCK gene have been tested for association, although findings have been inconsistent,[6] and one meta analysis has reported no association with either bipolar or major depressive disorder.[14] Other circadian genes associated with bipolar at relaxed significance thresholds include ARTNL, RORB, and DEC1.[15] One meta analysis reported a significant association of the short allele of the serotonin transporter, although the study was specific to European populations.[16] Two polymorphisms in the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene have been associated with bipolar disorder.[17] NFIA has been linked with seasonal patterns of mania.[18]

One particular SNP located on CACNA1C that confers risk for bipolar disorder is also associated with elevated CACNA1C mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex, and increased calcium channel expression in neurons made from patient induced pluripotent stem cells.[19]

No significant association exists for the BDNF Val66Met allele and bipolar disorder, except possibly in a subgroup of bipolar II cases,[20] and suicide.[21]

Due to the inconsistent findings in GWAS, multiple studies have undertaken the approach of analyzing SNPs in biological pathways. Signaling pathways traditionally associated with bipolar disorder that have been supported by these studies include CRH signaling, cardiac β-adrenergic signaling, phospholipase C signaling, glutamate receptor signaling,[22] cardiac hypertrophy signaling, Wnt signaling, notch signaling,[23] and endothelin 1 signaling. Of the 16 genes identified in these pathways, three were found to be dysregulated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex portion of the brain in post-mortem studies, CACNA1C, GNG2, and ITPR2.[24]

Advanced paternal age has been linked to a somewhat increased chance of bipolar disorder in offspring, consistent with a hypothesis of increased new genetic mutations.[25]

A meta-analysis was performed to determine the association between bipolar disorder and oxidative DNA damage measured by 8-hydroxy-2'-8-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) or 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG).[26] Levels of 8-OHdG and 8-oxodG are widely used as measures of oxidative stress in mental illnesses.[26] It was determined from this meta-analysis that oxidative DNA damage was significantly increased in bipolar disorder.

Environmental

Manic episodes can be produced by sleep deprivation in around 30% of people with bipolar. While not all people with bipolar demonstrate seasonality of affective symptoms, it is a consistently reported feature that supports theories of circadian dysfunction in bipolars.[27]

Risk factors for bipolar include obstetric complications, abuse, drug use, and major life stressors.[28]

The "kindling model" of mood disorders suggests that major environmental stressors trigger initial mood episodes, but as mood episodes occur, weaker and weaker triggers can precipitate an affective episode. This model was initially created for epilepsy, to explain why weaker and weaker electrical stimulation was necessary to elicit a seizure as the disease progressed. While parallels have been drawn between bipolar disorder and epilepsy, supporting the kindling hypothesis,[29] this model is generally not supported by studies directly assessing it in bipolar subjects.[27]

Neurological disorders

Mania occurs secondary to neurological conditions between a rate of 2% to 30%. Mania is most commonly seen in right sided lesions, lesions that disconnect the prefrontal cortex, or excitatory lesions in the left hemisphere.[30]

Diseases associated with "secondary mania" include Cushing's disease, dementia, delirium, meningitis, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, neurosyphillis, HIV dementia, uremia, as well as traumatic brain injury and vitamin B12 deficiency.[31]

Pathophysiology

See also

References

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