title: Serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region polymorphism and serotonin transporter binding in drug-naïve patients with major depression.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, 70210 Kuopio, Finland. mikko.joensuu@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joensuu
authors.forename: Soili Marianne
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.forename: Tommi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolmunen
authors.forename: Pirjo Irmeli
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Saarinen
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valkonen-Korhonen
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanninen
authors.forename: Pasi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ahola
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tiihonen
authors.forename: Jyrki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuikka
authors.forename: Ullamari
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pesonen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehtonen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins