Biological pathways, candidate genes, and molecular markers associated with quality-of-life domains: an update

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biological pathways, candidate genes, and molecular markers associated with quality-of-life domains

T2 - an update

AU - Sprangers, Mirjam A G

AU - Thong, Melissa S Y

AU - Bartels, Meike

AU - Barsevick, Andrea

AU - Ordoñana, Juan

AU - Shi, Qiuling

AU - Wang, Xin Shelley

AU - Klepstad, Pål

AU - Wierenga, Eddy A

AU - Singh, Jasvinder A

AU - Sloan, Jeff A

AU - Swaab, D.F.

PY - 2014/9

Y1 - 2014/9

N2 - BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence of a genetic foundation of patient-reported quality of life (QOL). Given the rapid development of substantial scientific advances in this area of research, the current paper updates and extends reviews published in 2010.OBJECTIVES: The objective was to provide an updated overview of the biological pathways, candidate genes, and molecular markers involved in fatigue, pain, negative (depressed mood) and positive (well-being/happiness) emotional functioning, social functioning, and overall QOL.METHODS: We followed a purposeful search algorithm of existing literature to capture empirical papers investigating the relationship between biological pathways and molecular markers and the identified QOL domains.RESULTS: Multiple major pathways are involved in each QOL domain. The inflammatory pathway has the strongest evidence as a controlling mechanism underlying fatigue. Inflammation and neurotransmission are key processes involved in pain perception, and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is associated with multiple sorts of pain. The neurotransmitter and neuroplasticity theories have the strongest evidence for their relationship with depression. Oxytocin-related genes and genes involved in the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways play a role in social functioning. Inflammatory pathways, via cytokines, also play an important role in overall QOL.CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the current findings need future experiments and replication efforts, they will provide researchers supportive background information when embarking on studies relating candidate genes and/or molecular markers to QOL domains. The ultimate goal of this area of research is to enhance patients' QOL.

AB - BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence of a genetic foundation of patient-reported quality of life (QOL). Given the rapid development of substantial scientific advances in this area of research, the current paper updates and extends reviews published in 2010.OBJECTIVES: The objective was to provide an updated overview of the biological pathways, candidate genes, and molecular markers involved in fatigue, pain, negative (depressed mood) and positive (well-being/happiness) emotional functioning, social functioning, and overall QOL.METHODS: We followed a purposeful search algorithm of existing literature to capture empirical papers investigating the relationship between biological pathways and molecular markers and the identified QOL domains.RESULTS: Multiple major pathways are involved in each QOL domain. The inflammatory pathway has the strongest evidence as a controlling mechanism underlying fatigue. Inflammation and neurotransmission are key processes involved in pain perception, and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is associated with multiple sorts of pain. The neurotransmitter and neuroplasticity theories have the strongest evidence for their relationship with depression. Oxytocin-related genes and genes involved in the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways play a role in social functioning. Inflammatory pathways, via cytokines, also play an important role in overall QOL.CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the current findings need future experiments and replication efforts, they will provide researchers supportive background information when embarking on studies relating candidate genes and/or molecular markers to QOL domains. The ultimate goal of this area of research is to enhance patients' QOL.

U2 - 10.1007/s11136-014-0656-1

DO - 10.1007/s11136-014-0656-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 24604075

SN - 0962-9343

VL - 23

SP - 1997

EP - 2013

JO - Quality of Life Research

JF - Quality of Life Research

IS - 7

ER -