Association between N -methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Subunit 2B Gene Polymorphisms and Personality Traits in a Young Japanese Population.

OBJECTIVE: The N -methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B (GluN2B) is involved in regulation of anxiety and depression and nervous activity in the brain. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the GluN2B gene ( GRIN2B ) are associated with human mental function and behaviour. We investigated whether four GRIN2B polymorphisms (rs7301328, rs1806201, rs1805247, and rs1805502) affect characterisation of personality traits.

METHODS: In 248 young people, GRIN2B polymorphisms were analysed, and personality traits were assessed using the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

RESULTS: There was no main effect of the GRIN2B polymorphisms on the NEO-FFI and STAI dimension scores. Interaction between polymorphism and sex was found in rs1805247 (p = 0.034) and rs1805502 (p = 0.040) in terms of the conscientiousness score of the NEO-FFI. However, post hoc simple main effect analysis showed no significant effect. The preliminary haplotype analysis indicated that haplotype CTT (rs1806201-rs1805247-rs1805502) in the haplotype block was associated with the extraversion score of the NEO-FFI in female participants (p = 0.044), but the significance was lost on correction for multiple testing.

CONCLUSION: There was no significant association between selected GRIN2B polymorphisms and personality traits, but this may be due to low statistical power. Further studies involving a larger study population are needed to clarify this.