title: SLC6A2 variants may predict remission from major depression after venlafaxine treatment in Han Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Venlafaxine, an antidepressant of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) type, is used to treat patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Much evidence suggests that genetic polymorphisms may modulate serotonergic and noradrenergic function, thereby affecting the treatment efficacy of venlafaxine. The aim of this study was to examine whether polymorphisms in the norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) associate with remission after venlafaxine treatment for MDD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-week naturalistic treatment study with venlafaxine was carried out in 243 Han Chinese patients with MDD. The patients were screened for seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the SLC6A2 gene. Of the enrolled patients, 161 completed the 8-week treatment. The 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to assess the improvement of depressive symptoms in each subject from baseline to the endpoint. For better presentation of time-course change of remission status, a Cox regression analysis for remission incidence during the 8-week treatment was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between remitters and non-remitters, significant differences in genotype frequencies were observed in five of the investigated SLC6A2 variants (rs28386840, rs1532701, rs40434, rs13333066, rs187714). GCG haplotype (rs40434 - rs13333066 - rs187714) in the SLC6A2 gene showed a association with non-remission. A Cox regression analysis for remission incidence during the 8-week treatment course significantly depends on SLC6A2 variants (rs28386840, rs40434, and rs187714).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the variation of the SLC6A2 gene is associated with treatment remission after venlafaxine in patients with MDD.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Jueng
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fong-Lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shin-Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Beitou Branch, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Beitou Branch, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Shen
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Che-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biology & Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jia-Fwu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-Jung
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ru-Band
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsy@ndmctsgh.edu.tw.
authors.forename: San-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012074:Remission Induction; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; C493227:SLC6A2 protein, human
keywords: Major depressive disorder; Norepinephrine transporter; Remission; SLC6A2 gene; Venlafaxine