Attempted suicide and polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.
Abnormalities of serotonin synthesis and metabolism may be associated with suicidality. The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) is one of the important genes involved in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. We examined the association of suicidal behavior in Chinese schizophrenic patients with a functional polymorphism of the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR). The 5-HTTLPR genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction for 76 suicidal and 262 non-suicidal patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria). All subjects were unrelated to each other, and all were Chinese. There was no significant genotypic or allelic association of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with history of attempted suicide. From our results, this 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is unlikely to have a major effect on suicidal behavior in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.
Chong
S A
SA
Department of Adult Psychiatry, Woodbridge Hospital & Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore. chong_siow_ann@moh.gov.sg
Lee
W L
WL
Tan
C H
CH
Tay
A H
AH
Chan
A O
AO
Tan
E C
EC
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology
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