The lack of genotype-phenotype relationship between platelet serotonin concentration and serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism in healthy subjects

Pivac, Nela and Nedić, Gordana and Mustapić, Maja and Babić, Ana and Stipčević, Tamara and Borovečki, Fran and Hajnšek, Sanja and Mück-Šeler, Dorotea (2009) The lack of genotype-phenotype relationship between platelet serotonin concentration and serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism in healthy subjects. Neuroscience Letters, 462 (1). pp. 45-48. ISSN 0304-3940

Preview

PDF Download (155Kb) | Preview

English abstract

A polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is frequently studied for association with antidepressant treatment response, different personality traits, and psychiatric disorders. Baseline platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration has been proposed to indicate a good or a poor treatment response to antidepressant drugs and to be associated with particular symptoms in psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to elucidate the genotype-phenotype relationship between platelet 5-HT concentration and 5-HTTLPR in healthy subjects. The frequency of 5-HTTLPR genotypes and alleles, as well as platelet 5-HT concentration was evaluated in 434 male and 86 female unrelated healthy medication-free Caucasian subjects of Croatian origin. A two-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in platelet 5-HT concentration subdivided according to the particular 5-HTTLPR genotype, no significant effect of sex, no significant effect of genotype, and no significant interaction between sex and genotype on platelet 5-HT concentration. In addition, one-way ANOVA did not detect significant effects of homozygous S/S genotype, or homozygous L/L genotype on platelet 5-HT concentration. Our results showed a lack of significant association between platelet 5-HT concentration and 5-HTTLPR variants, suggesting that there is no functional relationship between 5-HTTLPR alleles and platelet 5-HT concentration in the large groups of healthy male and female medication-free Caucasian subjects, free of neuro-psychiatric disorders.

Actions (login required)