No association between non-violent suicidal behavior and the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism.
There is compelling evidence that suicidal behavior is associated with the dysfunction of the serotonin system. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) was recently identified and the presence of the short allele was associated with lower gene expression, lower 5-HT uptake and violent suicidal behavior. Thus, we attempted to determine whether 5-HTTLPR is also involved in the susceptibility to non-violent suicidal behavior. We compared the genotype from 166 West European Caucasians who attempted suicide by a non-violent mean with 139 controls with no history of suicidal behavior from the same ethnic origin. The frequencies of the S allele and the SS genotype in the sample who attempted non-violent suicide were not statistically different to those in the controls. Thus, the genetically altered expression of the 5-HT transporter might be associated with more severe or violent suicidal behavior, but not with non-violent suicidal behavior.
Courtet
Philippe
P
Department of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry, Lapeyronie Hospital, INSERM E99-30, Montpellier, France. p-courtet@chu-montpellier.fr
Buresi
Catherine
C
Abbar
Mocrane
M
Baud
Patrick
P
Boulenger
Jean-Philippe
JP
Castelnau
Didier
D
Mouthon
Dominique
D
Malafosse
Alain
A
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004247:DNA