A family based study implicates solute carrier family 1-member 3 (SLC1A3) gene in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND
The glutamatergic system, the major excitatory neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system (CNS) has been proposed as contributing a possible role in the etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is based upon observations from animal, neuroimaging, neuroanatomical and neuropsychological studies. Genes related to glutamate function are therefore good functional candidates for this disorder. The SLC1A3 (Solute Carrier Family 1, member 3) gene encodes a glial glutamate transporter which maps to chromosome 5p12, a region of linkage that coincides in two published ADHD genome scans so far. SLC1A3 is thus both a functional and positional candidate gene for ADHD.


METHODS
We have undertaken detailed association analysis of SLC1A3 using a multi-stage approach for candidate gene analysis.


RESULTS
In a family-based sample (n = 299) we found a significant association between marker rs2269272 (p = .007) and ADHD. Two, two-marker haplotypes, rs2269272/rs3776581 (p = .016) and rs2269272/rs2032893 (p = .013) also yielded evidence of association.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study suggest that genetic variation in SLC1A3 may contribute to susceptibility to ADHD.
Turic
Darko
D
Department of Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Langley
Kate
K
Williams
Hywel
H
Norton
Nadine
N
Williams
Nigel M
NM
Moskvina
Valentina
V
Van den Bree
Marianne B
MB
Owen
Michael J
MJ
Thapar
Anita
A
O'Donovan
Michael C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG / Q000235:genetics*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics*
D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D027981:Symporters