Association of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in lichen simplex chronicus patients with psychiatric status.
BACKGROUND
The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and a responsible mediator for the itch. Dysregulation of serotonergic pathways has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many complex neuropsychiatric diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lichen simplex chronicus and dysfunction and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with lichen simplex chronicus and 61 healthy control subjects were examined.


RESULTS
The results for the patients and control subjects were not significantly different (P > 0.05) in long/long (L/L) and long/short (L/S) genotypes of 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (HTTLPR) polymorphism, but short/short S/S genotype was lower in lichen simplex chronicus patients (17.9%) than in controls (42.6%). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.028). The results for the patients and control subjects were not significantly different in 12/12, 10/12 and 10/10 genotypes of variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism (P > 0.05). Beck depression inventory (BDI) scores and symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90) psychotic subscale were overrepresented significantly in the 12/12 genotypes than 10/12 genotypes. State and Trait Anxiety Inventory tests (STAI-I and -II) point averages were not statistically significant (P > 0.05)


CONCLUSIONS
S/S genotypes of HTTLPR polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene may be related to lichen simplex chronicus and that patients who have 12/12 genotypes of VNTR polymorphism may be affected psychiatrically.
Kirtak
Necmettin
N
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey. nkirtak@yahoo.com
Inaloz
H Serhat
HS
Akçali
Cenk
C
Erdal
Emin
E
Herken
Hasan
H
Yildirim
Mehmet
M
Erguven
H Gulcin
HG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009450:Neurodermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences; D055815:Young Adult
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins