Methods for detection of depressive disorders

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the detection or diagnosis of depressive disorders, and provides methods and compositions useful for this purpose. In particular, the present invention provides biomarkers for the detection or diagnosis of major depressive disorder, and methods of use thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing depressive disorders in a subject, comprising:
 a) characterizing the levels of gene expression of one or more genes in a sample from a subject, wherein said one or more genes are selected from the genes listed in Tables 1 and 4; and   b) identifying risk of depressive disorders in said subject based on said levels of gene expression.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject comprises a human subject. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said human subject is suspected of suffering from depressive disorder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said subject is an adolescent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of the genes listed in Table 1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of the genes listed in Table 4. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of ADCY3, ATP2C1, CD59, FAM46A, FMR1, GNAQ, IGSF4A/CADM1, MAF, MARCKS, NAGA, PTPRM, TLR7, and ZNF291/SCAPER. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said subject is an adult. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of the genes listed in Table 1. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of FAM46A, MARCKS, ATP2C1, NAGA, TLR7, ADCY3, ASAH1, CD59, FOS, IGSF4A/CADM1, ZNF291/SCAPERSCAPER, ATP11C, MAF, GNAQ, FMR1, and PTPRM. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said genes comprise one or more of FAM46A CD59, IGSF4A/CADM1, NAGA and TLR7. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said characterizing the levels of gene expression comprises detecting the amount of mRNA. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said detecting the amount of mRNA comprises exposing said sample to nucleic acid probes complementary to said mRNA. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said nucleic acid probes are covalently linked to a solid surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said characterizing the levels of gene expression comprises detecting the amount of expressed protein. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said detecting the amount of mRNA in said sample comprises use of a detection technique selected from the group consisting of microarray analysis, reverse transcriptase PCR, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, and hybridization analysis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said depressive disorder comprises MDD. 
     
     
         18 . A kit or panel for detecting depressive disorders in a subject comprising reagents for detecting two or more genes listed in Tables 1 and/or 4, or proteins encoded thereby. 
     
     
         19 . A method for assessing chronic stress in a subject, comprising:
 a) characterizing the levels of gene expression of one or more genes in a sample from a subject, wherein said one or more genes are selected from the genes listed in Table 2; and   b) identifying risk of chronic stress in said subject based on said levels of gene expression.   
     
     
         20 . A kit or panel for detecting chronic stress in a subject comprising reagents for detecting two or more genes listed in Table 2, or proteins encoded thereby.