Association study of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and depression in 75-Year-Old nondemented subjects from the Vienna Transdanube Aging (VITA) study.
BACKGROUND
The site of effect for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), which is extensively investigated for its involvement in depressive symptoms. The 5-HTT gene exhibits a 5'-promoter-based length polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) that affects the transcription efficiency and activity, known as short (S) and long (L) alleles. We studied the association of this polymorphism in old age and depression in the Vienna Transdanube Aging (VITA) study, excluding subjects with dementia.


METHODS
We used retrospective data from the baseline of the VITA study, which is a cohort study of all inhabitants of a geographical area aged 75 years (N = 544). Depression was diagnosed and classified strictly according to the DSM-IV. To eliminate dementia effects, we excluded subjects with a Clinical Dementia Rating higher than or equal to 1 and/or a Mini-Mental State Examination score lower than 24. Genotyping for the 5-HTTLPR L/S allele was conducted using polymerase chain reaction methodology.


RESULTS
We found significantly higher SS genotype frequency in all subjects with past/ present depression compared to controls (trend test, p = .01). The SS genotype frequency was especially high in subjects with onset of depression before age 65. No correlations were found between genotypes/S allele carriers and actual Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Short-Geriatric Depression Scale, and anxiety scale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations of higher frequency of the 5-HTTLPR S allele in subjects with past/present depression fit with previous findings and point to the important role of 5-HTT in depression.
Grünblatt
Edna
E
Ludwig Boltzmann Society, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Aging Research, Vienna, Austria. edna.gruenblatt@mail.uni-wuerburg.de
Löffler
Christiane
C
Zehetmayer
Sonja
S
Jungwirth
Susanne
S
Tragl
Karl-Heinz
KH
Riederer
Peter
P
Fischer
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins