Adiponectin gene polymorphisms and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among female rape survivors: an exploratory study.

<b>Background:</b> Rape is a common traumatic event which may result in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet few studies have investigated risk biomarkers in sexually traumatised individuals. Adiponectin is a novel cytokine within inflammatory and cardiometabolic pathways with evidence of involvement in PTSD. <b>Objective:</b> This prospective exploratory study in a sample of female rape survivors investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the adiponectin gene (<i>ADIPOQ</i>) and posttraumatic stress symptom (PTSS) severity, and the interaction of these SNPs of interest with childhood trauma in modifying the association with PTSS severity. <b>Method:</b> The study involved 455 rape-exposed black South African women (mean age (SD), 25.3 years (±5.5)) recruited within 20 days of being raped. PTSS was assessed using the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) and childhood trauma was assessed using a modified version of the Childhood Trauma Scale-Short Form Questionnaire. Eight <i>ADIPOQ</i> SNPs (rs17300539, rs16861194, rs16861205, rs2241766, rs6444174, rs822395, rs1501299, rs1403697) were genotyped using KASP. Mixed linear regression models were used to test additive associations of <i>ADIPOQ</i> SNPs and PTSS severity at baseline, 3 and 6 months following rape. <b>Results:</b> The mean DTS score post-sexual assault was high (71.3 ± 31.5), with a decrease in PTSS severity shown over time for all genotypes. rs6444174TT genotype was inversely associated with baseline PTSS in the unadjusted model (<i>β</i> = -13.6, 95% CI [-25.1; -2.1], <i>p</i> = .021). However, no genotype was shown to be significantly associated with change in PTSS severity over time and therefore <i>ADIPOQ</i> SNP x childhood trauma interaction was not further investigated. <b>Conclusion:</b> None of the <i>ADIPOQ</i> SNPs selected for investigation in this population were shown to be associated with change in PTSS severity over a 6-month period and therefore their clinical utility as risk biomarkers for rape-related PTSD appears limited. These SNPs should be further investigated in possible gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.