Human behavioral features influenced by sertpr gene variants

ABSTRACT

The serotonin system modulates affective, cognitive and behavioral processes. A key molecular structure of this system, the serotonin transporter [SERT] gene, has been associated with many human behaviors, both normal and pathological. The aim of this article is to present a comprehensive overview of the human behavioral features influenced by SERTPR insertion/deletion polymorphism and to suggest same comprehensive hypotheses. In particular, SERTPR has been related to hippocampal volume and amygdala response and it has been found to influence anxiety-related personality traits and anxiety disorders; in mood disorders it showed some influences on age at onset, periodicity, illness recurrence, rapid cycling, antidepressants response and depressive reaction to stressful life events. Suicide, substance abuse, psychosomatic disorders, eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, autism, schizophrenia and Alzheimer Disease were also found related to SFRTPR variants. Therefore, SERTPR seems to modulate a wide range of aspects in both normal and affected individuals, many of which are possibly due to indirect correlations between such human features