ABSTRACT
AIM: To study the association of serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and osteoporosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 186 individuals with normal bone mineral density and 89 with osteoporosis. Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms 5HTTVNTR and 5HTTLPR were studied by PCR and statistical analyses used to test the association between groups. RESULTS: The frequency of 12/10 and 12/12 genotypes of 5HTTVNTR was significantly higher among the osteoporotic patients (OR=2,620 CI 95% [1,112--6,172], P=0,037). For 5HTTLPR we did not find significant differences between the two studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: As far as we know, this is one of the few studies that report an association between 5HTTVNTR and osteoporosis opening the hypothesis that the determination of this specific serotonin transporter gene polymorphism may contribute to the identification of individuals at high risk for the development of osteoporosis.
Subject(s)
Osteoporosis/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Platelet levels of serotonin were determined by a quantitative direct radioimmunoassay, in a group of autistic patients and a control group. Thirty six autistic patients (28 males and 8 females), all with severe mental retardation, and a group of 23 matched controls, were studied. The serotonin levels in autistic patients (mean +/- SD) (88.37 mmol/dl +/- 40.38) were significantly higher that in the control group (49.54 mmol/dl +/- 16.49). There were no significant differences in levels between the sexes and age groups among subjects in the patient and the control groups. We detected a hyperserotoninaemia in 70% of the autistic patients. We also discuss correlations between serotonin levels in our patients with known aetiologies and levels quoted in the literature and propose RIA to be used as a quick, easy and reliable method for the analysis of large numbers of samples.
