Study on the interrelationship between 5-HTTLPR/G-protein beta3 subunit (C825T) polymorphisms and depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and G-protein beta3-subunit (GNbeta3 C825T) polymorphisms are associated with depressive disorder and explore the genetic mechanism concerning the pathogenesis of this disorder.


METHODS
The genotypes were determined with polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific restriction enzyme analysis. Patients suffering from depression (n=184) and sex and age-matched controls (n=158) were compared in this study.


RESULTS
The frequencies of 5-HTTLPR SS and GNbeta3 825TT genotypes and 5-HTTLPR S and GNbeta3 825T alleles in patients suffering from depression were significantly higher than those in the controls (P<0.01). Combined genotype analysis showed that individuals with both 5-HTTLPR S and GNbeta3 825T alleles (odds ratio=3.25, P=0.002) had a risk of depressive disorder higher than those with 5-HTTLPR S (odds ratio=1.817, P=0.01) or GNbeta3 825T alleles (odds ratio=2.214, P=0.001) alone.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that the etiology of depressive disorder is associated with 5-HTTLPR and GNbeta3 C825T polymorphisms. Our data also suggests that an interaction effect may exist between the 5-HTTLPR S allele and GNbeta3 825T allele in increasing the risk of depressive disorder.
Cao
Mei-Qun
MQ
Research Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiang Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, Republic of China. caomeiqun@yahoo.com.cn
Hu
Sui-Yu
SY
Zhang
Chun-Hu
CH
Xia
Da-Sheng
DS
D001782:Blood Donors; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012016:Reference Values; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C454420:G-protein beta3 subunit; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004247:DNA; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins