Naslov
Serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) and intron 2 (VNTR) polymorphisms in suicide victims of Croatian origin

Autori
Hranilović, Dubravka ; Štefulj, Jasminka ; Furač, Ivana ; Kubat, Milovan ; Balija, Melita ; Jernej, Branimir

Izvornik
Biological Psychiatry (0006-3223) 54 (2003), 9; 884-889

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
5-HT transporter; promoter; intron; Slavic population; suicidal behavior

Sažetak
Background: Disturbances in serotonin (5HT) transmission are the most frequently reported neurobiological substrates of suicidal behavior. Since 5HT transporter plays an important role in regulation of 5HT synaptic function and its gene contains two functional polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR in the promoter and VNTR in the second intron), it represents an interesting candidate in association studies of suicidal behavior. Methods: In the present study a possible association of 5-HTTLPR and intron 2-VNTR polymorphisms of the 5HT transporter gene with suicidal behavior was investigated in a sample of 135 suicide victims and 299 healthy controls of Croatian origin. Results: Allele frequencies of both polymorphisms in our control population accorded well with the frequencies reported for other European populations. There were no significant differences in the 5-HTTLPR genotype- and allele- frequencies between suicide victims and healthy controls. On the other hand, overrepresentation of VNTR-allele 10 in suicide group (p=0.0485) was observed. Analysis of distribution of estimated haplotype frequencies revealed differences between suicide victims and control subjects (p=0.0168), with the excess of haplotype L10 among suicide victims (p=0.0117). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the intron 2-VNTR polymorphism of 5HT transporter gene might be associated with suicidal behavior and support the involvement of 5HT transporter in susceptibility to suicide.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti, Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA