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.