Serotonin transporter gene variation in sudden infant death syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene in cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and controls, and further to elucidate a possible relationship between 5-HTT genotypes and external risk factors for SIDS.


METHODS
The subjects investigated consist of 163 SIDS cases and 243 controls. Polymorphisms in both the promoter and intron 2 of the 5-HTT gene were investigated, and the genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
In the promoter, there was a tendency for the L allele and L/L genotype to be found more often in the SIDS cases than in the controls (p=0.05 and p=0.07, respectively). Regarding the intron 2 polymorphism, there were no differences between the groups, and the SIDS cases were not found to have a higher frequency of either the L/L-12/12 genotype or the L-12 haplotype than the controls. When investigating possible correlations between genotype and risk factors for SIDS, there was a tendency towards different distribution of the promoter genotypes in cases found dead prone compared to cases found dead in other sleeping positions (p=0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Polymorphisms in the promoter of the 5-HTT gene may be of importance with regard to SIDS.
Opdal
Siri Hauge
SH
Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Pathology Clinic, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. s.h.opdal@medisin.uio.no
Vege
Ashild
A
Rognum
Torleiv Ole
TO
D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016684:Prone Position; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012890:Sleep; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000235:genetics*
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins