title: Association of the HTR2C gene and antipsychotic induced weight gain: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The 5-HT2C receptor has been hypothesized to represent an important modulator in feeding behaviour. Evidence was based on the observation that knock-out mice for the 5-HT2C receptor gene (HTR2C) develop obesity and that many atypical antipsychotics with potent 5-HT2C antagonism may induce weight gain in susceptible individuals. Pharmacogenetic studies focusing mainly on the -759C/T promoter polymorphism (rs3813929) of the X-linked HTR2C gene revealed controversial results. We investigated the association of the HTR2C gene and weight gain using meta-analytical techniques, combining all published data while restricting our analysis to studies investigating the 759C/T. We also investigated whether ancestry (Caucasian vs. Asian) and clinical factors moderated any association. We found evidence for a slight association of -759C/T with weight gain and significance between studies for heterogeneity. Our meta-analysis provides support for the association of HTR2C in weight gain but indicates that firmly establishing the role of pharmacogenetics in clinical psychiatry requires much larger sample sizes that have been hitherto reported.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Neurogenetics Section, Toronto, ON, Canada. vincenzo_deluca@CAMH.net
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Bartolomeis
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044469:Racial Groups; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C