engleski

Tryptophan hydroxylase gene polymorphism (A218C) in suicide victims

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate- limiting enzyme in the serotonin (5HT) biosynthesis pathway. Genetic variants of this enzyme have been associated with suicidal attempts, aggression and psychiatric illnesses. In order to further explore the involvement of TPH gene in suicidality, we studied the TPH A218C polymorphism in intron 7 in samples of 85 individuals with completed suicide and 91 controls without personal and family history of psychiatric disorders and suicide behaviour. Both groups belonged to Croatian ethnical population. DNA was obtained from blood samples and genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. A significant difference in genotypic distribution was observed between controls and suicide victims (X2=7.48, df=2, p<0.05). In suicide victims we found higher frequency of CC genotype as compared to controls (odds ratio 2.26), while AA genotype did not demonstrate any difference. Our results confirm association of TPH gene polymorphism with suicidality. Whether this gene itself or a gene nearby may be involved in suicidality remains an open question.

Tryptophan hydroxylase ; gene polymorphism ; suicidality

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