Investigation of completed suicide and genes involved in cholesterol metabolism.
BACKGROUND
Several lines of evidence support the association between low or lowered levels of serum total cholesterol and suicide. Genetic epidemiological studies suggest that genes predispose to suicide. Given that genes control many aspects of cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism, one approach through which to explore the putative association between low cholesterol and suicide is through genetic studies.


METHODS
We examined the potential role of five genes encoding proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and transport in a total sample of 305 male Caucasian subjects, consisting of 145 suicide completers and 160 controls. We investigated variation in the HMG CoA reductase (HMGCR), 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genes.


RESULTS
We were unable to detect significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between the suicide cases and controls for any of the genes studied. No relationship was found between genotype and impulsivity or aggression as measured using the BIS and BDHI, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The limitations of this study are consistent with the typical limitations inherent in most genetic association studies involving complex behavioral traits.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these genes are unlikely to play a major role in susceptibility to suicide, further studies in a larger sample are necessary to reveal the smaller genetic effects, if present.
Lalovic
Aleksandra
A
McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, Québec, Canada H4H 1R3.
Sequeira
Adolfo
A
DeGuzman
Rosherrie
R
Chawky
Nadia
N
Lesage
Alain
A
Seguin
Monique
M
Turecki
Gustavo
G
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide
D002784:Cholesterol