title: Possible association between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and violent suicidal behavior in mood disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genes involved in the serotonin system are major candidates in association studies of suicidal behavior. In this case-control study we investigated whether the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene encoding the protein responsible for the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse after its release from serotonergic neurons is a susceptibility factor for suicidal behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  A functional polymorphism of the 5-HTT gene (a 44-base pair insertion/deletion in the 5-HTT-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) was studied in a population of 237 consecutive patients with affective disorder (unipolar or bipolar) and 187 control subjects. Ninety-nine patients had attempted suicide at least once, of whom 26 made a violent attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was found between the "s" allele of the 5-HTTLPR and suicide attempt; however, there was a significant difference in allele distributions between patients who had made violent suicide attempts and control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A genetic variant of the 5-HTT gene may predispose individuals to violent suicidal behavior. The precise phenotype associated with the 5-HTT gene is unclear, and therefore further studies are required to replicate these findings.
authors.affiliation: Service de Psychiatrie Adulte (Pr Rouillon), Hôpital Henri Mondor et Albert Chenevier, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellivier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szöke
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacoste
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosten-Bertrand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rouillon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Launay
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Laplanche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leboyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin