title: Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR).
abstract: The short (s) variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene linked functional polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is associated with depression. Stressful life events, gender, and race have been shown to moderate this association. We examined the relationship between 5-HTTLPR genotype and symptoms of depression in two samples. Study 1 = 288 participants from a study of caregiver stress; and Study 2 = 142 participants from a study examining psychosocial stressors, genetics, and health. Main effects of 5-HTTLPR on symptoms of depression were examined, along with moderation by stress (caregiving status or low childhood socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and race. The 5-HTTLPR x stress group x gender interaction was significant in both samples (P < 0.003, and P < 0.008, respectively). For females, the s allele, combined with caregiving stress (Study 1) or low childhood SES (Study 2), was associated with higher depression scores as compared to participants in the non-stressor group and those with the long (l) allele; whereas, in males, the l allele, combined with a stressor, was associated with higher depression scores as compared to those in the non-stressor group and those with the s allele. Findings from two independent samples suggest that the association of 5-HTTLPR with depression varies according to gender and stressful life events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 2969, Durham, NC 27710, USA. brummett@acpub.duke.edu
authors.forename: Beverly H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brummett
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Ilene C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashley-Koch
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jonassaint
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Züchner
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Redford B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D017028:Caregivers; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics*; D004522:Educational Status; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D004247:DNA