Assessing the effect of ubiquitin specific peptidase 24 (USP24) on mood disorder traits using QTL-based Mendelian randomization

Abstract

The psychiatric disorders known as mood disorder is extremely heritable. Throughout time, numerous genetic polymorphisms have been discovered that increase the likelihood of developing mood disorders. There are many genetic links, and one of the recent ones is USP24. Mood disorders and related traits, such as neuroticism score and depressive symptoms, have been linked to reduced levels of the USP24 gene, according to current data. The study found a significant association between it and a higher likelihood of experiencing mood instability and a higher neuroticism score. USP24 could be involved in the ubiquitin proteasome system, which is known to impact the breakdown of proteins and the cellular signalling pathways that are important for brain function and the regulation of mood. The purpose of this study was to do further investigation into the correlation observed in the (Aman et al., 2022) study using the technique of Mendelian Randomisation MR. European population genetic variations associated with USP24 expression eQTLs from eQTLGen Consortium were used to represent the gene expression levels of USP24. The study analysed five variables connected to mood disorders, including mood instability, neuroticism score, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and bipolar disorder by utilising summary statistics derived from the most extensive genome-wide association studies GWAS conducted on individuals of European ancestry. We discovered a significant association between a genetically regulated expression of the USP24 gene and an elevated susceptibility to MDD, mood instability, and a higher neuroticism score. There was increased in bipolar disorder and anxiety but not significant. The findings suggest that USP24 is likely to play a role in traits associated to mood disorders.