Epigenetic Changes of Serotonin Transporter in the Patients with Alcohol Dependence: Methylation of an Serotonin Transporter Promoter CpG Island.
- Author:
Byung Yang PARK
1
;
Boung Chul LEE
;
Kyoung Hwa JUNG
;
Myung Hun JUNG
;
Byung Lae PARK
;
Young Gyu CHAI
;
Ihn Geun CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Serotonin transporter region (5-HTTLPR);
Methylation;
Alcohol dependence
- MeSH:
Alcoholism;
Anxiety;
CpG Islands;
Depression;
DNA;
Epigenomics;
Humans;
Male;
Mental Disorders;
Methylation;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Promoter Regions, Genetic;
Serotonin;
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
- From:Psychiatry Investigation
2011;8(2):130-133
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and alcohol dependence are associated with serotonin metabolism. We assessed the methylation level of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) promoter region in control and alcohol dependent patients. METHODS: Twenty seven male patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence were compared with fifteen controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of bisulfate-modified DNA were designed to amplify a part of the CpG island in the 5HTT gene. Pyrosequencing was performed and the methylation level at seven CpG island sites was measured. RESULTS: We found no differences in the methylation patterns of the serotonin transporter linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) between alcohol-dependent and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our negative finding may be because 5-HTT epigenetic variation may not affect the expression for 5-HTT or there may be other methylation site critical for its expression. To find out more conclusive result, repeating the study in more methylation sites with a larger number of samples in a well-controlled setting is needed.
