ADP ribosyl-cyclases (CD38/CD157), social skills and friendship

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology Vol. 78; pp. 185 - 192
• Main Authors: Chong, Anne, Malavasi, Fabio, Israel, Salomon, Khor, Chiea Chuen, Yap, Von Bing, Monakhov, Mikhail, Chew, Soo Hong, Lai, Poh San, Ebstein, Richard P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: ADP-ribosyl Cyclase - genetics; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase - metabolism; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - genetics; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 - metabolism; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - metabolism; Autism quotient; Autistic Disorder - genetics; CD157; CD38 expression; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Friends; Friendship; Genetic Association Studies; GPI-Linked Proteins - genetics; GPI-Linked Proteins - metabolism; Human social affiliation; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Oxytocin; Oxytocin - blood; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Psychiatry; Quantitative Trait Loci; Social Skills; Young Adult; Human social affiliation; Friendship; Autism quotient; Oxytocin; CD38 expression; CD157; oxytocin; human social affiliation; friendship; Autism Quotient
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.011

•CD38 expression correlates with AQ in 214 subjects.•CD157 eQTL SNPs predict AQ in 214 subjects and in a larger sample of 1327 subjects.•CD38 expression (n=214) and CD157 SNP associations (n=1327) are specific to three of the five AQ subscales: imagination, communication, and social skills; underscoring their importance in social cognition.•Ecological validity is demonstrated where subjects with higher CD38 expressions have more friends, and CD157 SNPs correlates to Friendship Questionnaire (n=1132). Why some individuals seek social engagement while others shy away has profound implications for normal and pathological human behavior. Evidence suggests that oxytocin (OT), the paramount human social hormone, and CD38 that governs OT release, contribute to individual differences in social skills from intense social involvement to extreme avoidance that characterize autism. To explore the neurochemical underpinnings of sociality, CD38 expression of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was measured in Han Chinese undergraduates. First, CD38 mRNA levels were correlated with lower Autism Quotient (AQ), indicating enhanced social skills. AQ assesses the extent of autistic-like traits including the propensity and dexterity needed for successful social engagement in the general population. Second, three CD157 eQTL SNPs in the CD38/CD157 gene region were associated with CD38 expression. CD157 is a paralogue of CD38 and is contiguous with it on chromosome 4p15. Third, association was also observed between the CD157 eQTL SNPs, CD38 expression and AQ. In the full model, CD38 expression and CD157 eQTL SNPs altogether account for a substantial 14% of the variance in sociality. Fourth, functionality of CD157 eQTL SNPs was suggested by a significant association with plasma oxytocin immunoreactivity products. Fifth, the ecological validity of these findings was demonstrated with subjects with higher PBL CD38 expression having more friends, especially for males. Furthermore, CD157 sequence variation predicts scores on the Friendship questionnaire. To summarize, this study by uniquely leveraging various measures reveals salient elements contributing to nonkin sociality and friendship, revealing a likely pathway underpinning the transition from normality to psychopathology.