Support for allelic association of a polymorphic site in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene with risk for alcohol dependence.
OBJECTIVE
An association between the 5-HTTLPR short variant polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene and risk for alcohol dependence has been reported from case-control studies that are, however, prone to chance findings related to artifacts of population structure. The authors sought additional evidence for this association from a family-based study.


METHODS
Ninety-two alcohol-dependent probands and their parents were tested for nonrandom transmission of alleles from heterozygous parents to affected probands.


RESULTS
Preferential transmission of the short allele was found (65 of 102 transmissions from heterozygous parents).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest allelic association between a variant in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene and the risk for alcohol dependence. However, it remains to be seen whether the functional properties of this variant are directly responsible for the increased risk to alcohol dependence.
Lichtermann
D
D
Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, University Medical School of Pécs, Hungary. lichtermann@uni-bonn.de
Hranilović
D
D
Trixler
M
M
Franke
P
P
Jernej
B
B
Delmo
C D
CD
Knapp
M
M
Schwab
S G
SG
Maier
W
W
Wildenauer
D B
DB
D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; 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; D012701:Serotonin