Behavioral and Brain Functions (Jul 2012)

Interaction between <it>Serotonin Transporter</it> and <it>Serotonin Receptor 1 B</it> genes polymorphisms may be associated with antisocial alcoholism

  • Wang Tzu-Yun,
  • Lee Sheng-Yu,
  • Chen Shiou-Lan,
  • Chang Yun-Hsuan,
  • Chen Shih-Heng,
  • Chu Chun-Hsien,
  • Huang San-Yuan,
  • Tzeng Nian-Sheng,
  • Wang Chen-Lin,
  • Lee I,
  • Yeh Tzung,
  • Yang Yen,
  • Lu Ru-Band

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-8-18
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 18

Abstract

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Abstract Background Several studies have hypothesized that genes regulating the components of the serotonin system, including serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and serotonin 1 B receptor (5-HT1B), may be associated with alcoholism, but their results are contradictory because of alcoholism’s heterogeneity. Therefore, we examined whether the 5-HTTLPR gene and 5-HT1B gene G861C polymorphism are susceptibility factors for a specific subtype of alcoholism, antisocial alcoholism in Han Chinese in Taiwan. Methods We recruited 273 Han Chinese male inmates with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) [antisocial alcoholism (AS-ALC) group (n = 120) and antisocial non-alcoholism (AS-N-ALC) group (n = 153)] and 191 healthy male controls from the community. Genotyping was done using PCR-RFLP. Results There were no significant differences in the genotypic frequency of the 5-HT1B G861C polymorphism between the 3 groups. Although AS-ALC group members more frequently carried the 5-HTTLPR S/S, S/LG, and LG/LG genotypes than controls, the difference became non-significant after controlling for the covarying effects of age. However, the 5-HTTLPR S/S, S/LG, and LG/LG genotypes may have interacted with the 5-HT1B G861C C/C polymorphism and increased the risk of becoming antisocial alcoholism. Conclusion Our study suggests that neither the 5-HTTLPR gene nor the 5-HT1B G861C polymorphism alone is a risk factor for antisocial alcoholism in Taiwan’s Han Chinese population, but that the interaction between both genes may increase susceptibility to antisocial alcoholism.

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