Serotonin transporter genotype, morning cortisol and subsequent
                        depression in adolescents

BackgroundThe short (s) allele of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) may be associated with exposure to social adversities and the subsequent onset of depressive illness in adulthood.AimsTo test in adolescents at high risk for depression whether the short ‘s’ allele is associated with levels of morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.MethodHigh-risk adolescents (n = 403) were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. Salivary samples were obtained on four consecutive school days within 1 h of waking from 393 (97.5%) individuals and 367 (91%) underwent a mental state reassessment at 12 months.ResultsMultilevel analysis revealed higher levels of salivary cortisol in short allele carriers (s/s>s/l>l/l). A subsequent episode of depression was increased in those with higher cortisol and the ‘s’ allele, and independently by depressive symptoms at entry, in both genders.ConclusionsThe short allele of 5-HTTLPR may moderate the association between morning cortisol and the subsequent onset of a depressive episode.

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Issues concerning feedback about genetic testing and risk of depression

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.107.047514 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 194 (5) ◽

pp. 404-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Kay Wilhelm ◽

Bettina Meiser ◽

Philip B. Mitchell ◽

Adam W. Finch ◽

Jennifer E. Siegel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Causal Effect ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Gene Environment Interaction ◽

Individual Genotype ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

S Allele ◽

The Impact

BackgroundRecent studies show that adverse life events have a significantly greater impact on depression onset for those with the s/s allele of the genotype for the 5-HT gene-linked promoter region. Research in genes related to risk of depression leads to the question of how this information is received by individuals.AimsTo investigate factors related to the response to receiving one's own serotonin transporter genotype results.MethodPredictors of the impact of receiving individual genotype data were assessed in 128 participants in a study of gene–environment interaction in depression onset.ResultsTwo-thirds decided to learn their individual genotype results (receivers) and prior to disclosure this decision was associated with a perception of greater benefit from receipt of the information (P=0.001). Receivers completing the 2-week (n=76) and 3-month follow-up (n=78) generally reported feeling pleased with the information and having had a more positive experience than distress. However, distress was related to genotype, with those with the s/s allele being most affected.ConclusionsThere was high interest in, and satisfaction with, learning about one's serotonin transporter genotype. Participants appeared to understand that the gene conferred susceptibility to depression rather than a direct causal effect.

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Short Allele of Serotonin Transporter Gene Promoter Is a Risk Factor for Obesity in Adolescents*

Obesity ◽

10.1038/oby.2007.519 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 271-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Silvia Sookoian ◽

Carolina Gemma ◽

Silvia I. García ◽

Tomas Fernández Gianotti ◽

Guillermo Dieuzeide ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Serotonin Transporter Gene ◽

Transporter Gene ◽

Short Allele

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Polymorphisms in BDNF (Val66Met) and 5-HTTLPR, morning cortisol and subsequent depression in at-risk adolescents

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077750 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 197 (5) ◽

pp. 365-371 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Ian M. Goodyer ◽

Tim Croudace ◽

Frank Dudbridge ◽

Maria Ban ◽

Joe Herbert

Keyword(s):

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Depressive Episode ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Unipolar Depression ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Morning Cortisol ◽

Multivariate Modelling ◽

Show Evidence ◽

Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence for genetic effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary axis system. More than one gene is likely to moderate corticoid-mediated activity.AimsTo investigate whether the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism (rs6265, Val66Met) is associated with morning waking salivary cortisol and moderates the corticoid-mediated risk for subsequent depressive episode onset independently of the known effects of 5-HTTLPR (the serotonin transporter gene promoter).MethodHigh-risk adolescents (n = 401) were genotyped for Val66Met BDNF and 5-HTTLPR. Salivary samples were obtained on four consecutive school days within 1 h of waking. There were 365 (91%) remaining participants reassessed at 12 months for episodes of psychiatric disorder in the follow-up period. Of these, 357 (89%) had complete data for multivariate modelling.ResultsThere were 41 (11.2%) individuals who reported a new episode of clinical depression over the follow-up period. Increased risk for subsequent depression was found in carriers of the Val66Val genotype in BDNF with higher morning waking cortisol. This remained present when the known interaction between carriers of a short allele of 5-HTTLPR with higher morning salivary cortisol was taken into account.ConclusionsBoth BDNF and 5-HTTLPR genes show evidence of modifying the risk of a subsequent new depressive episode associated with elevated morning salivary cortisol. In adolescents morning salivary cortisol levels may constitute a biomarker for some forms of unipolar depression.

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Influence of Serotonin Transporter Genotype and Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism on Recognition of Emotional Faces

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561771100097x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 1014-1020 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Michaela Defrancesco ◽

Harald Niederstätter ◽

Walther Parson ◽

Herbert Oberacher ◽

Hartmann Hinterhuber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Recognition ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Emotional Faces ◽

Val158met Polymorphism ◽

Fearful Faces ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

S Allele ◽

Regulation Of Emotion ◽

Acuity Test

AbstractMonoamines, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, play a crucial role in the regulation of emotion processing and mood. In this study, we investigated how polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) influence emotion recognition abilities. We recruited 88 female undergraduate students and assessed 5-HTT genotype and the COMT Val158Met polymorphism. The subjects completed two computerized tasks: The Penn Emotion Recognition Test (ER40) and the Penn Emotion Acuity Test (PEAT). For the ER40, we found that s-allele carriers performed significantly worse in the recognition of happy faces, but did better in the recognition of fearful faces, compared with homozygous l-carriers of the 5-HTT gene. Neither 5-HTT nor COMT genotypes influenced the ability to discriminate between different intensities of sadness or happiness on the PEAT. Moreover, there was no significant interaction between the two polymorphisms in their effect on performance on the ER40 or the PEAT. (JINS, 2011, 17, 1014–1020)

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Is serotonin transporter genotype associated with epigenetic susceptibility or vulnerability? Examination of the impact of socioeconomic status risk on African American youth

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579413000990 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 289-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Steven R. H. Beach ◽

Gene H. Brody ◽

Man Kit Lei ◽

Sangjin Kim ◽

Juan Cui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

African American ◽

Serotonin Transporter ◽

African American Youth ◽

Differential Susceptibility ◽

Parent Report ◽

Short Allele ◽

Serotonin Transporter Genotype ◽

The Impact ◽

Best Fit

AbstractWe hypothesized that presence of the short allele in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter would moderate the effect of early cumulative socioeconomic status (SES) risk on epigenetic change among African American youth. Contrasting hypotheses regarding the shape of the interaction effect were generated using vulnerability and susceptibility frameworks and applied to data from a sample of 388 African American youth. Early cumulative SES risk assessed at 11–13 years based on parent report interacted with presence of the short allele to predict differential methylation assessed at age 19. Across multiple tests, a differential susceptibility perspective rather than a diathesis–stress framework best fit the data for genes associated with depression, consistently demonstrating greater epigenetic response to early cumulative SES risk among short allele carriers. A pattern consistent with greater impact among short allele carriers also was observed using all cytosine nucleotide–phosphate–guanine nucleotide sites across the genome that were differentially affected by early cumulative SES risk. We conclude that the short allele is associated with increased responsiveness to early cumulative SES risk among African American youth, leading to epigenetic divergence for depression-related genes in response to exposure to heightened SES risk among short allele carriers in a “for better” or “for worse” pattern.

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The Serotonin Transporter Gene and Personality: Association of the 5-HTTLPR S Allele, Anxiety, Depression and Affective Temperaments

Hungarian Medical Journal ◽

10.1556/hmj.2.2008.28406 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 639-645 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Xenia Gonda

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Serotonin Transporter Gene ◽

Transporter Gene ◽

Affective Temperaments ◽

S Allele ◽

Anxiety Depression

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The serotonin transporter gene and personality: association of the 5-HTTLPR s allele, anxiety, depression and affective temperaments

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/oh.2008.28406 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 149 (33) ◽

pp. 1569-1573 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xénia Gonda

Keyword(s):

Serotonin Transporter ◽

Serotonin Transporter Gene ◽

Transporter Gene ◽

Affective Temperaments ◽

S Allele ◽

Anxiety Depression

Az 5-HTTLPR-polimorfizmus kiemelt szerepet játszik a hangulatzavarok és a neuroticismus hátterében. Vizsgálatunk célja az 5-HTTLPR és a neuroticismus komponensei közül a szorongásra és a depresszióra való hajlam és az affektív labilitás összefüggésének vizsgálata volt pszichiátriailag egészséges populációban. A vizsgálat résztvevői a Spielberger-féle vonás- és állapotszorongás kérdőívet (STAI), a Zung-féle önértékelő depresszióskálát (ZSDS), valamint a TEMPS-A kérdőívet töltötték ki. Az 5-HTTLPR genotípust PCR segítségével határoztuk meg. A pontszámokat a különböző csoportokban ANOVA segítségével hasonlítottuk össze. Az s allélt hordozók szignifikánsan magasabb pontszámot kaptak a ZSDS és a STAI állapotszorongás-skálán, valamint a depresszív komponenst hordozó affektívtemperamentum-skálákon is. Eredményeink szerint a neuroticismus komponensei önállóan is összefüggést mutatnak az 5-HTTLPR-polimorfizmussal, ami a vonás egységességét támasztja alá. Eredményeink rámutatnak további kutatások szükségességére az egészséges populációban megfigyelhető vonások genetikai hátterének feltárásával kapcsolatban, mivel ezek a neuropszichiátriai betegségek endofenotípusaiként a jövőbeli kutatások alapvető építőkövei lehetnek.

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