title: Serotonergic genes and amygdala activity in response to negative affective facial stimuli in Korean women.
abstract: Serotonergic genes have been implicated in mood disorders, alcoholism and certain personality traits. We investigated the possible relationship between several polymorphisms in the serotonin (5-HT) system and amygdala responses to negative facial stimuli in Korean women using functional magnetic resonance imaging. All participants were genotyped with regard to the following polymorphisms: the serotonin transporter-gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) G(-703)T, 5-HT(1A) C(-1019)G and 5-HT(2A) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6311. We found increased activations in response to angry facial stimuli in the bilateral amygdala of subjects with the long allele of 5-HTTLPR compared with those with two copies of the short allele. Higher activations in response to sad facial stimuli were found in the bilateral amygdala of subjects with the T/T genotype of 5-HT(2A) SNP rs6311, compared with C allele carriers, and in subjects with the G/G genotype of TPH2 G(-703)T, compared with those with T/T and G/T genotypes. Our results for individuals from an Asian population countered a previous finding for a Caucasian population and identified the moderating role of genetic background in the relationships between these serotonergic gene polymorphisms and amygdala function elicited by negative emotional stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: B-T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B-J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D044466:Asian People; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000235:genetics; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D012701:Serotonin; C494784:TPH2 protein, human; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase