Correlation of 5-HTTLPR genetype and behavioral problems in school-age twins / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the correlation between 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) and twin children's behavioral problems and its interaction with environmental factors.Methods A total of 147 pairs of school-age twins aged 6-12 years were enrolled.The behavioral problems were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).The genotype of 5-HTTLPR was detected by the method of PCR.The correlation of 5-HTTLPR and children's behavioral problems was performed using generalized estimating equation.Results (1) The overall incidence rate of behavioral problems in school-age twins was 24.15％ (27.94％ in the boys;20.89％ in the girls),in which the rate of thinking problems (15.31％) was the highest,and the rates of other problems were lower (3.40％-8.16％).(2) The results of correlation analysis showed that 5-HTTLPR was only related to the social problems (P＜ 0.05).The S allele of 5-HTTLPR maybe associated with the social problems.(3) The results of interaction of 5-HTTLPR with twin factors of themselves and family environmental factors showed that 5-HTTLPR was the main effect of the anxious/depressed problems,and S allele carriers were easier to occur anxious/depressed problems.Gender was the main effect of the social problems,and boys were easier to occur social problems.There was no significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR and twin factors of themselves and family environmental factors.Conclusion 5-HTTLPR genetype may have some relevance to the social and anxious/depressed problems,and S allele may be a susceptibility gene of social and anxious/depressed problems.