Association study of novel human serotonin 5-HT(1B) polymorphisms with alcohol dependence in Taiwanese Han.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal serotonergic pathways are implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, migraine, substance abuse, and alcoholism. The human serotonin receptor 1B, encoded by the HTR1B gene, is a presynaptic serotonin autoreceptor that plays a role in regulating serotonin synthesis and release. Because the linkage of antisocial alcoholism to the HTR1B gene was recently reported in two populations, it was of interest to identify genetic variants at the HTR1B locus and study their association with alcoholism in the Taiwanese Han population.


METHODS
We sequenced DNA from Taiwanese Han to screen for genetic variation in the coding, promoter, and partial 3' untranslated regions of the HTR1B locus of 158 alcohol-dependent cases with withdrawal symptoms and 149 control subjects, who either never drank or drank only occasionally and in low quantities.


RESULTS
Seven variants were identified. Positive associations were found between variant A-161T and alcohol dependence at both the allelic and genotypic level. In addition, an expression study showed that the A-161T variant affected reporter gene activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support an association between HTR1B and alcohol dependence. The HTR1B A-161T polymorphism may be valuable both as a functional and as an anonymous genetic marker for HTR1B.
Sun
Hsiao Fang Sunny
HF
Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan.
Chang
Yuh Terng
YT
Fann
Cathy Shen-Jang
CS
Chang
Ching Jui
CJ
Chen
Yi Hsin
YH
Hsu
Yun Pung
YP
Yu
Wu Yang
WY
Cheng
Andrew Tai-Ann
AT
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C470302:HTR1B protein, human; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin