Genetic polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region and response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with premature ejaculation

OBJECTIVES: Serotonin plays a central role in ejaculation and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been successfully used to treat premature ejaculation. Here, we evaluated the relationship between a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the response of patients with premature ejaculation to SSRI medication. METHODS: Sixty-nine premature ejaculation patients were treated with 20 mg/d paroxetine for three months. The Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time and International Index of Erectile Function scores were compared with baseline values. The patients were scored as having responded to therapy when a 2-fold or greater increase was observed in Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time compared with baseline values after three months. Three genotypes of 5-HTTLPR were studied: LL, LS and SS. The appropriateness of the allele frequencies in 5-HTTLPR were analyzed according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium using the χ2-test. RESULTS: The short (S) allele of 5-HTTLPR was significantly more frequent in responders than in nonresponders (p<0.05). Out of the 69 total PE patients, 41 patients (59%) responded to therapy. There was no significant difference in the International Index of Erectile Function score at the end of therapy between the responder and nonresponder groups. The frequencies of the L allele and S allele were 20% and 39%, respectively, in the responder group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that premature ejaculation patients with the SS genotype respond well to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy. Further studies with large patient groups are necessary to confirm this conclusion. .

Interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism and stress predicts anxiety symptoms in adolescents: a multi-wave longitudinal study / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism(5-HTTPR) and stress in predicting anxiety symptoms.Methods Through random cluster sampling,a total of 252 healthy adolescents participated in this study.During the initial assessment,all participants completed the Adolescent Life Events Questionnaire (ALEQ) and Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) to assess their levels of stress and anxiety and were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism.Participants subsequently completed MASC and ALEQ once every three months during the subsequent 24 months.A multilevel model was used to investigate the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress that predict anxiety symptoms.Results The results indicated no major effect of 5-HTTLPR in males (β=0.80,P＞0.05)or females(β=-0.21,P＞0.05).There were major effects of stress in males(β=0.30,P＜0.01) and females (β=0.33,P＜0.01)and a significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress.Females with at least one 5-HTTLPR S allele(β=0.11,P＜ 0.01)and males with at least one 5-HTTLPR L allele(β=-0.10,P＜0.01)exhibited more anxiety symptoms under stressful situations.Conclusion The interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress can predict anxiety symptoms in adolescents.There are gender differences on the 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction.

The Effects of Triallelic Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Stressful Life Event on Depression in Patients with Alcohol Dependence

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the triallelic serotonin transporter gene and stressful life events to determine their effect on depression with alcohol dependence. METHODS: Ninety-five hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence (73 male, 22 female) were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two (33.7%) of the total patients were diagnosed with major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV. The characteristics of stress were evaluated using the stressful life events scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the depression scale (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI). Alcoholism with depression (n = 32) and alcoholism without depression (n = 63) were genotyped for the triallelic serotonin transporter gene (LA : higher expressing allele, LG/S : lower expressing allele). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the allele frequency between the depression group and the non-depression group (chi2 = 0.345, p = 0.619). LG/S alleles had more comorbid depression in the higher score of stressful life events scale [Mental-Haenszel (MH)-chi2 = 4.477, p = 0.034]. But there was no significant difference in the comorbidity according to the scores from the stressful life event scale in the LA alleles (MH-chi2 = 0.741, p = 0.399). In the results, alcohol-dependent individuals with LG/S alleles had more comorbid depression than those with LA alleles when they had experienced severe stressful life events (MH-odds ratio = 2.699, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there is no direct relationship between triallelic serotonin transporter gene and depression in the alcohol dependent patients. But alcohol dependent individuals with the lower expressing alleles of the serotonin transporter gene were more susceptible to depression than those with the higher expressing alleles in response to stressful life events.

The Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism in Korean Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Children

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Korean ADHD patients and the l/s polymorphism of serotonin transporter(5-HTTLPR). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 189 Korean ADHD children diagnosed by Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean Version(K-SADS-PL), both parents of ADHD children, and 150 normal children. DNA were extracted from the blood of all samples, and genotyping was done. Based on the allele and genotype information, not only the case-control analysis between ADHD and normal children but also the family-based association test among ADHD children and their parents. Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) were performed for family-based associated test(number of trio=113). The results of the clinical rating and neuropsychological tests were compared according to the l/s genotype of ADHD children. RESULTS: In case-control analysis, there were no statistically significant difference of l/s gene polymorphism between ADHD and normal children in various kinds of analysis condition. In family-based association study, TDT failed to detect linkage disequilibrium between l/s gene polymorphism and ADHD in whole ADHD families. However, in the families of ADHD inattentive type only(number of trio=23), l allele was transmitted more preferentially in the proband with ADHD even if the number of families was small(chi-square=4.57, p=.032). In the analysis of the results from the clinical scales and neuropsychological tests in ADHD children, the score of the Novelty- Seeking of ADHD children with l/l genotype was significantly lower than with the other genotypes(F=3.15, p=.047), and that of Self Transcendence was significantly higher(F=4.25, p=.017). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest there were no significant genetic association between the 5- HTTLPR gene polymorphism and Korean ADHD.

Family-based Association Study of the serotonin transporter Gene Polymorphism and Autism in the Chinese trios / 中国心理卫生杂志

0.05).Conclusion:There was likely no association between the polymorphism at the serotonin transporter gene and autism. The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism might not play a causal role in the development of autism.