title: Genetic Associations of Alexithymia in Predicting Interferon-Induced Depression in Chronic Hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that alexithymia is associated with gene polymorphisms that regulate the availability of serotonin (5-HT) in the brain. Since the 5-HT network is involved in interferon (IFN)-induced depression, this paper aimed to investigate the role of alexithymia and the functional gene variants of the 5-HT1A receptor (HTR1A) and the 5-HT transporter (5-HTTLPR) in induction of depression during antiviral treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The depressive symptoms of 130 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C and no current psychopathology were measured during treatment with IFN and ribavirin (6-12 months) and at a 6-month follow-up. At baseline, alexithymia and 2 genotypes (5-HTTLPR and HTR1A) were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with homozygosity for HTR1A-G and 5-HTTLPR long alleles had significantly higher levels of alexithymia. After controlling for sociodemographic and disease-related factors, alexithymia and HTR1A-G polymorphism, both separately (20-22%) and jointly (14-16%), significantly and independently predicted the development of IFN-induced depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects carrying HTR1A-G and 5-HTTLRP double long alleles are more vulnerable to alexithymia. Also patients with a higher level of alexithymia and the HTR1A-G gene variant are more vulnerable to experiencing IFN-induced depressive symptoms. The clinical implications of targeting alexithymia and HTR1A receptors as a possible treatment option for mood disorders should be investigated in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Unit, Scientific Institute for Digestive Diseases, x2018;Saverio de Bellis' Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Porcelli
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cozzolongo
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cariola
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giannuzzi
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lanzilotta
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sonnante
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leandro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000235:genetics*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins