OBJECTIVETo assess the association of TPH2 gene polymorphisms with the response or remission to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) drugs during treatment of major depressive disorder.

METHODSFor 304 patients receiving SSRIs treatment for major depression disorder, 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1007023, rs1023990 and rs4570625) in the TPH2 gene were genotyped by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry using a MassArray Analyzer 4 system. HAMD-17 was adopted as the primary rating tool to evaluate the severity of depression on the baseline and at the end of 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th week of treatment.

RESULTSThe frequency of GG genotype/G allele for rs4570625 differed significantly with the frequency of TT and GT genotypes/T allele between responders and non-responders (P=0.013 and 0.007, respectively). Genotypic and allelic frequencies of the other polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the two groups (P>0.05). No association of TPH2 gene polymorphism with remission was found with the 3 SNPs.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphisms of TPH2 gene may play an important role in response to antidepressant drug therapy.