Associations between serotonin-related gene polymorphisms and panic disorder.
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.
Maron
Eduard
E
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Raja, Estonia. Edurad.Maron@klinikum.ee
Lang
Aavo
A
Tasa
Gunnar
G
Liivlaid
Liivi
L
Tõru
Innar
I
Must
Anne
A
Vasar
Veiko
V
Shlik
Jakov
J
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
D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase