In the present study we replicated the relationship of SLC6A4*C to anxiety by sibpair linkage analysis but found no evidence of association, raising the question of whether SLC6A4*C locus is itself affecting anxiety or is linked to another still unknown functional variant.
A polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene (SLC6A4) encoding this protein, was recently reported to affect protein expression and to be associated with measures of anxiety and depression and with autism (using a family-controlled transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) design).
Recently a relationship between serotonin transporter transcriptional control region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism and anxiety related personality traits in Caucasians was reported.
We also investigated the relationship of polymorphism in 5-HTTLPR to anxiety traits, by having 189 of the 501 subjects complete a self-rating questionnaire for anxiety and depression.
Polymorphisms in the regulatory region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), in intron 7 of the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene and in the MAOA gene were previously reported to be associated with mood and anxiety disorders, impulsivity and aggression.
The present study evaluated the singular and interactive effects of a functional polymorphism (variation) in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and a psychological trait (anxiety sensitivity [AS], i.e., fear of arousal symptoms) in predicting subjective and physiological responses to a 35% carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge in a community sample (N = 72).
The serotonin transporter-linked promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) is thought to be associated with some serotonin dysfunction-related psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat a number of psychiatric disorders related to mood and anxiety, and variations in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene may be involved in a number of these.
The discovery that the gene that expresses the 5-HTT possesses a functional promoter-region polymorphism, which is associated with temperament and personality traits such as anxiety and negative emotionality as well as some behaviors, led to many studies examining this polymorphism in individuals with different neuropsychiatric disorders.
A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the human serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with several dimensions of neuroticism and psychopathology, especially anxiety traits, but the predictive value of this genotype against these complex behaviors has been inconsistent.
However, infants with the 7-repeat DRD4 allele and homozygous for the short form of 5-HTTLPR (7(+), s/s) showed more anxiety and resistance to the stranger's initiation of interaction.
The short variant of the serotonin transporter gene-linked functional polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been associated with personality traits related to anxiety, hostility, and depression.
Allelic variation of 5-HTT expression in humans is caused by a functional gene-promoter polymorphism with two predominant variant alleles, which are associated with variations in anxiety measures as previously reported.
Furthermore, homozygosity for the high activity allele of a functional polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) was associated with both increased [3H]citalopram binding and occurrence of anxiety in the AD subjects.
Using clinical and psychological analyses, we tested the genetic association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism (5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region) and anxiety- and depressive-related symptoms emerged in schizophrenia.
A polymorphism in the human serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTTLPR) is associated with anxiety and increased risk for developing depression in the face of adversity.
These findings indicate that 5-HTTLPR may in fact have a small but reliable influence on personality, particularly in the manifestation of trait anxiety when measured with a neuroticism scale based on the five-factor model of personality.
Gene coding for the serotonin transporter protein is designated SLC6A4, which has been differentially associated with anxiety-related behavioral traits and neuroticism in healthy subjects.
A deletion/insertion polymorphism within the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) promoter gene (5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region, 5-HTTLPR) is thought to be associated with several psychopathological phenotypes related to disturbed impulse control, anxiety and depression.
A common regulatory variant (5-HTTLPR) in the human serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), resulting in altered transcription and transporter availability, has been associated with vulnerability for affective disorders, including anxiety and depression.
A SERT gene genotype with no apparent individual effect on risk and known to be associated with anxiety is preferentially transmitted to children with AN (chi2 trend=9.457, 1 df, P=0.0021) and AN-R alone (chi2 trend=7.477, 1 df, P=0.0063) when the 'more active' MAOA gene variant is also transmitted.