Alcohol Dependence and Genetic Variability  in the Serotonin Pathway among Currently and  Formerly Alcohol-Dependent Males.
BACKGROUND
Genes involved in the serotonin pathway may determine the susceptibility to alcohol dependence and its severity. The present study explored whether specific polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway could be associated with alcohol dependence or alcohol-related psychopathological symptoms.


METHODS
The cohort comprised 101 currently and 100 formerly alcohol-dependent males, as well as 97 male healthy blood donors. The following questionnaires were employed: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Zung Depression and Anxiety Scale, the Brief Social Phobia Scale, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Subjects were genotyped for bi- and triallelic SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR,HTR1A rs6295, and HTR1B rs13212041.


RESULTS
Statistical differences in bi- and triallelic SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR genotype distribution were observed between the 3 groups investigated (p = 0.008 and p = 0.023, respectively); however, no gene-dose effect was observed. The severity of the alcohol problems was higher in currently alcohol-dependent subjects with the 5-HTTLPR LL (p = 0.039) and L′L′ genotypes (p = 0.027). Formerly dependent subjects with the 5-HTTLPR S′S′ genotype showed more social anxiety, depressive, and anxiety traits (p = 0.009, p = 0.006, and p = 0.036, respectively). Healthy controls with the 5-HTTLPR SS genotype showed more traits of social anxiety (p = 0.020).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that bi- and triallelic SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR has some effects on the severity of alcohol dependence. Triallelic 5-HTTLPR was associated with social anxiety, anxiety, and depressive traits in alcohol-dependent subjects.
Anja
A
Plemenitas
Matej
M
Kastelic
Stefan
S
o Porcelli
Alessandro
A
Serretti
Vita
V
Dolžan
Blanka
B
Kores Plesnicar
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000209:etiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D017524:Slovenia; D055815:Young Adult
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin