Serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is not associated with depressive symptomatology in mood disorders.
Disturbances of the serotoninergic neutrotransmitter system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. A functional polymorphism in the upstream regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) has been recently reported to be associated with both unipolar and bipolar disorder. In this study, we investigated the possibility that the 5-HTTLPR might be associated with depressive symptomatology in a sample of mood disorder subjects. One hundred and thirty-two psychiatric inpatients affected by major depressive (n = 67) and bipolar (n = 65) disorder (DSM-IV) were assessed at admission by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-21, divided into Core, Sleep, Activity, Psychic anxiety, Somatic anxiety and Delusion clusters) and were typed using PCR techniques. The only prior treatment permitted was low dose benzodiazepines (<5 mg diazepam or equivalent); no prior (<2 weeks) antidepressant or neuroleptic treatment was allowed. 5-HTTLPR variants were not associated with total depressive symptomatology as measured by HAMD. The short 5-HTTLPR variant was marginally associated with higher psychic anxiety scores (F = 7.11, d.f. = 1,262, P = 0.008). The association was stronger among bipolars and early onset subjects. 5-HTTLPR variants were not associated with the remaining symptom clusters. The upstream regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene has not, therefore, a major influence on the depressive symptomatology in mood disorder subjects.
Instituto Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele, Department of Neuropsychiatric, Sciences, University of Milan School of Medicine, Italy. serretti.alessandro@mail.hsr.it
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D000483:Alleles; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins