title: Tryptophan hydroxylase gene associated with paroxetine antidepressant activity.
abstract: The possible association of the A218C tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene variant with the antidepressant activity of paroxetine was investigated in a sample of 121 inpatients affected by a major depressive episode and treated with paroxetine 20-40 mg with either placebo or pindolol in a double blind design for 4 weeks. The severity of depressive symptoms was weekly assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. TPH allelic variants were determined in each subject using a PCR-based technique. TPH*A/A and TPH*A/C variants were associated with a poorer response to paroxetine treatment when compared to TPH*C/C (P=0.005); this difference was not present in the pindolol augmented group. Other variables, such as sex, diagnosis, presence of psychotic features, severity of depressive symptomatology at baseline and paroxetine plasma level, were not associated with the outcome. TPH gene variants are therefore a possible modulator of paroxetine antidepressant activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Institute, Via Stamira D'Ancona 20-20127 Milan, Italy. serritti.alessandro@hsr.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cusin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smeraldi
mesh_terms: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017374:Paroxetine; D004247:DNA; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase