Serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region polymorphism and serotonin transporter binding in drug-naïve patients with major depression.
OBJECTIVE
Both the serotonin transporter and its genetic regulation by the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region have a role in the pathophysiology of depression. Most of the previous studies have found no influence of serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region allelic variation on serotonin transporter binding in healthy controls or patients with major depression. Due to the inconsistency of the previous findings, we compared single photon emission computed tomography imaging with the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region genotype in patients with major depressive disorder.


METHODS
A total of 23 drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder were genotyped and brain imaged with ([123I])nor-beta-CIT single photon emission computed tomography. The severity of depression was evaluated with the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale.


RESULTS
Depressed patients homozygous for the short allele had lower ([123I])nor-beta-CIT binding in the medial prefrontal cortex, but not in the midbrain, compared with the other genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased medial prefrontal cortical serotonin transporter binding in the patients homozygous for the short allele may be linked to altered function of the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region gene expressed in these patients, especially in the medial prefrontal cortex.
Joensuu
Mikko
M
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, 70210 Kuopio, Finland. mikko.joensuu@kuh.fi
Lehto
Soili Marianne
SM
Tolmunen
Tommi
T
Saarinen
Pirjo Irmeli
PI
Valkonen-Korhonen
Minna
M
Vanninen
Ritva
R
Ahola
Pasi
P
Tiihonen
Jari
J
Kuikka
Jyrki
J
Pesonen
Ullamari
U
Lehtonen
Johannes
J
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins