What is it about?

Genetic variants in Cryptochrome Circadian Clock 2 (CRY2) were associated with dysthymia, which has a chronic course of illness where a depressive episode lasts for two years or longer and often deepens into a major depressive episode.

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Why is it important?

This is the first report to show that genetic variants in CRY2, a gene encoding the actual repressor or "the breaks" of the circadian clock, associate with dysthymia. The data gave further support the view that CRY2 plays a role in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders.

Perspectives

The data build on the earlier findings that demonstrated the association of CRY2 genetic variants with the winter type of seasonal affective disorder, the depressive episode in bipolar disorder, and the rapid cycling in bipolar disorder. Therefore, CRY2 seems as a "mood gene".

Professor Timo Partonen
National Institute for Health and Welfare

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This page is a summary of: CRY2 Genetic Variants Associate with Dysthymia, PLoS ONE, August 2013, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071450.
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