title: Genetic Polymorphism in the Promoter Region of Serotonin Transporter: Implications for Ethanol Abuse in Children and Adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a review of published literature regarding genetic polymorphism of serotonin transporter gene, named as 5-HTTLPR, and its potential role as a susceptibility marker for ethanol abuse in childhood and adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of several databases was conducted with the following keywords: 5-HTTLPR, children or adolescents or teenagers, susceptibility, alcohol or ethanol, abuse or misuse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol interacts with serotonergic synaptic transmission in several ways, and the reduced availability of serotonin transporters might foster brain dysfunction, driving to alcohol abuse. The initial use of ethanol in children and adolescents is determined primarily by environmental influences, whereas the establishment of drinking patterns is strongly controlled by genetic factors. Functional polymorphic variants in the promoter region of the 5-HTTLPR gene have age-dependent effects in alcohol abuse. This polymorphism, mapped to the 5' region of the SLC6A4, is a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and involves a direct repeat of 20-23 base pairs GC-rich sequences, comprising a short (S) allele, consisting of 14 repeats, and a long (L) allele, with 16 repeats. Additional variants have been described, although their influences on childhood and adolescence ethanol use are not clear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The influence of the 5-HTTLPR allelic variants in children and adolescent misuse of alcohol might be considered for clinical management, preventing long-term behavior problem. Identifying genetic markers associated to the potential alcohol misuse or abuse could be useful in guiding management and formulating effective coping strategies.
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Coral
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Department of Medicine, Três Lagoas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julie Massayo Maeda
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Batista
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Losi
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guembarovski
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Karina Banin
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Campos
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayara Delgado
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of General Biology, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Pelegrinelli
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fungaro
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Department of Pathological Sciences, Londrina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Angelica Ehara
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Watanabe
keywords: alcohol abuse; genetic polymorphism; serotonin transporter