Transcription factor AP-2 beta genotype and psychosocial adversity in relation to adolescent depressive symptomatology.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible interactions between the gene coding for activating protein-2 beta (AP-2 beta) and psychosocial factors to predict depressive symptoms in adolescents. Two-hundred 16- and 19-year-old adolescents from the county of Västmanland, Sweden, were asked to complete a questionnaire, interviewed about psychosocial risk factors, and genotyped with regard to the transcription factor AP-2 beta intron 2 polymorphism. AP-2 beta genotype interacted significantly both with type of housing and parental separation to predict depressive symptoms. Individuals who were homozygous for the short AP-2 beta allele displayed higher depression scores when psychosocial adversity was taken into account. Amongst carriers of one or two copies of the long allele, there was no difference in depressive symptoms despite differences in psychosocial environments.