title: A functional polymorphism in the HTR2C gene associated with stress responses: a validation study.
abstract: Previously we have shown that a functional nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs6318 on the HTR2C gene located on the X-chromosome, is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a laboratory stress recall task. The present paper reports a validation of the cortisol response to stress in a second, independent sample. The study population consisted of 60 adult participants (73.3% males). Consistent with our prior findings, compared to Cys23 G allele carriers, persons homozygous for the Ser23C allele had a significantly greater average cortisol response (p=0.007) and area under the curve (p=0.021) over the course of an emotional stress recall protocol. Also parallel to our prior report, the change in cortisol from baseline to the average during the stress protocol was roughly twice as large among Ser23C homozygotes than among persons with Cys23 G. These findings validate our initial observation of association between rs6318 and cortisol response to an acute stressor, and extend the results to include females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States. Electronic address: brummett@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Beverly H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brummett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Babyak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States; Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Ilene C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Redford B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000235:genetics*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: HTR2C; Stress; rs6318