A Functional Adenosine Deaminase Polymorphism Associates with Evening Melatonin Levels and Sleep Quality

Abstract

Increased adenosine levels throughout the day promote sleepiness. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the adenosine deaminase ADA gene (rs73598374) has been shown to affect sleep regulation. The extent to which lower ADA enzymatic activity is associated with the homeostatic sleep factor, melatonin, is uncertain. To test this possibility, we assessed the relationship between the ADA polymorphism and evening melatonin levels, as well as self-reported sleep behavior. Given the close relationship between mood and sleep behavior, we further tested the impact of ADA genotype on self-reported mood. We show that relative to the GG homozygotes, the A allele carriers (higher adenosine levels) had significantly higher evening melatonin levels as well as significantly better sleep quality. We further show the correlations between sleep and mood measures were altered by ADA genotype, with a stronger relationship observed in the GG (lower adenosine) group. Combined, these findings advance our understanding of the biochemistry of melatonin production by showing that there is a relationship between ADA genotype and melatonin levels. The differential relationships between sleep and psychological health between the genotype groups may reveal novel insights about the development of genotype-specific progression of various psychological disorders such as chronic anxiety and stress.

Keywords: adenosine; adenosine deaminase; melatonin; mood; sleep.

Figure 1

Evening melatonin levels according to genotype. There was a significant effect of ADA genotype on evening melatonin levels. Higher melatonin levels were measured in the AG genotype group (less enzymatic activity, higher adenosine) relative to the GG genotype group. Data are means ± SD, * = p < 0.05.