The serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism and suicide.
Serotonergic dysfunction has been implicated in mood disorders and in the pathophysiology of suicidality. A functional polymorphism (a 44-base pair insertion (L)/deletion (S)) in the promoter of the gene encoding the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR), associated with mood disorders, has been inconsistently associated with suicidality. To add to this debate, we designed a case-control study involving 62 suicide victims and 72 controls matched for age, gender and ethnicity. All subjects underwent forensic investigation. No association could be detected between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and suicide. This result is consistent with the proposal that different genes are involved in hopelessness and suicidal behavior or in depressive illness.
Helbecque
Nicole
N
INSERM U744, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille 2, 1 rue Calmette, BP 245, 59019 Lille Cedex, France.
Sparks
D Larry
DL
Hunsaker
John C
JC
Amouyel
Philippe
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013405:Suicide
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins