title: Associations between serotonin-related gene polymorphisms and panic disorder.
abstract: Studies suggest that vulnerability to panic attacks and panic disorder (PD) may be related to a deficient serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission. In the present case-control study we investigated possible associations between PD phenotype and five candidate polymorphisms including 5-HT transporter (5-HTTLPR and VNTR), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA promoter region), tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1 218A/C) and 5-HT1B receptor (5-HT1BR 861G/C) genes. The study sample consisted of 158 patients with PD and 215 healthy control subjects. The analysis showed higher frequencies of LL genotype (p = 0.016) and L allele variant (p = 0.007) of 5-HTTLPR in the patients. No significant associations were observed between PD and other candidate gene polymorphisms. However, a higher frequency of longer allele genotypes of the MAOA promoter region was observed in female PD patients with agoraphobia than in female controls (p = 0.016). These findings indicate that genetic variants conceivably related to lower 5-HT neurotransmission may be involved in the development of PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Raja, Estonia. Edurad.Maron@klinikum.ee
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Aavo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasa
authors.forename: Liivi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liivlaid
authors.forename: Innar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tõru
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Must
authors.forename: Veiko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: Jakov
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shlik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase