title: Serotonin transporter gene associated with lithium prophylaxis in mood disorders.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between the functional polymorphism in the upstream regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and the prophylactic efficacy of lithium in mood disorders. Two hundred and one subjects affected by bipolar (n = 167) and major depressive (n = 34) disorder were followed prospectively for an average of 58.2 months and were typed for their 5-HTTLPR variant using polymerase chain reaction techniques. 5-HTTLPR variants were associated with lithium outcome (F = 5.35; df = 2,198; P = 0.005). Subjects with the s/s variant showed a worse response compared to both l/s and l/l variants. Consideration of possible stratification effects such as sex, polarity, age at onset, duration of lithium treatment and previous episodes did not influence the observed association. 5-HTTLPR variants may be a possible influencing factor for the prophylactic efficacy of lithium in mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy. serretti.alessandro@hsr.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serretti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lilli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mandelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smeraldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
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; D008094:Lithium