title: Interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism and stress predicts depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: a multi-wave longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene may play an important role in the onset and development of mental disorders. Past studies have tested whether a functional polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) moderated the association between stress and depressive symptoms, but the results of these studies were inconsistent. Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress that predict depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 252 healthy adolescents (131 females and 121 males, aged from 14 to 18, mean = 16.00, standard deviation = 0.60) participated in this study. During the initial assessment, all participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Adolescent Life Events Questionnaire (ALEQ) and were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. Participants subsequently completed CES-D and ALEQ once every three months during the subsequent 24 months. A multilevel model was used to investigate the 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction in predicting depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated no main effect of 5-HTTLPR and a significant 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction in females only. Females with at least one 5-HTTLPR S allele exhibited more depressive symptoms under stressful situations. No significant 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction was found in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Chinese adolescents, there are gender differences on the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress that predict depressive symptoms. The association between stress and depressive symptoms is moderated by 5-HTTLPR in Chinese female adolescents.
authors.forename: Qing-sen
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiao-lian
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Hai-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chan-juan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Meng-cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiong-zhao
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jin-yao
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Shu-qiao
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins