A case-control and family-based association study of the 5-HTTLPR in pediatric-onset depressive disorders.
BACKGROUND
Pediatric depression can be particularly informative for clarification of the causes of mood disorders. The aim of this work was to explore the possible association between childhood- and early-adolescent-onset DSM-IV depressive disorders (DD; including major depression and dysthymia) and the serotonin transporter-linked promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) locus.


METHODS
The case-control sample consisted of 68 unrelated patients with DD, and 68 unrelated age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. The same patients were included in the family-based study, which consisted of 41 triads and 11 dyads.


RESULTS
An excess of the SS-genotype (p =.025) and of the S-allele (p =.021) was found among DD children (odds ratio = 1.81; 95% confidence interval = 1.12-2.94). The family-based results suggested that the S-allele was preferentially transmitted to depressed children (haplotype-based haplotype relative risk: chi(2) = 7.231 df = 1, p =.007; transmission disequilibrium test: chi(2) = 5.233, df = 1, p =.022).


CONCLUSIONS
A role for the 5-HTTLPR locus that needs replication in larger samples is suggested in childhood DD.
Nobile
Maria
M
Child Psychiatry Unit, Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio, Parini, Italy. mnobile@bp.lnf.it
Cataldo
Maria Giulia
MG
Giorda
Roberto
R
Battaglia
Marco
M
Baschirotto
Cinzia
C
Bellina
Monica
M
Marino
Cecilia
C
Molteni
Massimo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins