Myriad Genetics discovers depression gene

The Apaf-1 (Apoptosis Protease Activating Factor 1) gene was discovered using large families from Utah that contain multiple cases of major depressive disorder. The evidence presented in the study supports a new hypothesis that increased destruction of brain cells through apoptosis leads to major depression in individuals with specific variations in the Apaf-1 gene.

“We are very excited by the potential of the Apaf-1 gene discovery to lead to new therapeutics for the treatment of depression,” said Peter Meldrum, president and CEO of Myriad Genetics. “There is a real need for novel, more effective therapies to treat this debilitating illness.”

The Apaf-1 gene makes the (Apaf-1) protein. This protein is an activator of a cascade of events leading to the destruction of a cell. Certain forms of the gene, that were found to be over-represented in families with major depression, cause a gain of function, leading to increased cell death.

It is this cell death increase that is involved in the cause of major depressive disorder, a novel hypothesis proposed by Myriad researchers and their collaborators in this paper.