Relationship of 5-HTTLPR genotypes and depression risk in the presence of trauma in a female twin sample.
Several studies have implicated an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4; 5-HTT) in the development of mood disorders. In the present study of a sample of 247 young adult female twins from Missouri, we examine whether this polymorphism interacts with the effect of adverse life events to increase risk for developing depression. We found a significant interaction between the number of high-activity L(A) alleles and exposure to trauma (OR = 1.70, P < 0.0001). This differs from previous reports, in that the higher activity genotypes (L(A)/L(A), L(A)/S, L(A)/L(G)), rather than the low activity genotypes (S/S, S/L(G), L(G)/L(G)), are associated with an increased incidence of major depressive disease (MDD) in the presence of environmental trauma.
Chorbov
Vesselin M
VM
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Lobos
Elizabeth A
EA
Todorov
Alexandre A
AA
Heath
Andrew C
AC
Botteron
Kelly N
KN
Todd
Richard D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins