Association of Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism with Alcohol Dependence.
- Author:
Hyun Gyun SON
1
;
Ihn Geun CHOI
;
Young Gyu CHAI
;
Mi Ran CHOI
;
Jae Hwan KIM
;
Byung Hwan YANG
;
Seok Hyeon KIM
;
Seung Mo SUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Serotonin transporter;
Polymorphism;
5-HTTLPR;
Alcohol dependence
- MeSH:
Age of Onset;
Alcoholism*;
Alleles;
DNA;
Genotype;
Humans;
Phenotype;
Population Characteristics;
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins*;
Serotonin*;
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry
2003;10(2):159-167
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Under the hypothesis that 5-HTTLPR polymorphism plays some role in the susceptibility or vulnerability of some subgroup of alcohol dependence, associations of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with alcohol dependence were examined. METHOD: This association analysis included 109 Korean alcohol dependent and 113 Korean control subjects. DNA of all subjects were genotyped for the biallelic functional polymorphism in the 5-HTTLPR. Considering the likelihood of heterogeneity in the alcohol dependence phenotype, alcohol dependent subjects were subgrouped by onset age, family history of alcohol dependence and severity of withdrawal symptoms. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequencies of either the 5-HTTLPR genotype or the short vs. long allele in alcohol dependent and control subjects. The frequency of the S allele and S-carrier (LS or SS genotype) was significantly increased in the early onset alcohol dependent subjects and the familial alcohol dependent subjects compared with that in the control subjects. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the 5-HTT 'S' promoter polymorphism is associated with an increased susceptibility or vulnerability to develop early onset alcohol dependence and familial alcohol dependence, which characterize Cloninger's type 2 alcohol dependence.
