Effect of SNP at position 40237 in exon 7 of the TPH2 gene on susceptibility to suicide.
OBJECTIVE
The novel tryptophan hydroxylase isoform (TPH2), being the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin, has many biological functions and plays an important role as candidate gene in several psychiatric disorders. Here, an A-G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the position 40237 relative to 5'-end of TPH2 gene was selected for the association with suicide behavior.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 102 MD patients with suicide behavior as attempters and 123 MD patients without suicide behavior as non-attempters. The TPH2 SNP was determined by sequencing on an ABI 3700 automated DNA sequencer.


RESULTS
The A allele was significantly less frequent in attempters than in non-attempters (p=0.0067). Individuals with the A/A genotype showed a significantly lower risk of suicide behavior than those with the A/G or G/G genotype (OR=0.35).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the A-G polymorphism of TPH2 may confer susceptibility to suicide behavior in MD patients.
Ke
Li
L
Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Road #22, Shantou 515031, and Shandong Health Hospital, P.R. China. kli@stu.edu.cn
Qi
Zhang Yu
ZY
Ping
Yu
Y
Ren
Cheng Yi
CY
D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
C494784:TPH2 protein, human; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase