Association between 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor gene polymorphism and suicidal behavior

Abstract

Suicidal behavior is highly correlated with many emotional disturbances and some psychiatric disorders. The biogenic amine, serotonin, is one of the most important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system believed to play a huge role in pathogenesis of some kind of mental disorders. Drugs targeting serotonin receptors like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are useful in the present therapy of anxiety and depression. Recent studies have reported that genetic factors are associated with development of some psychiatric disorders. Serotonin receptor single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has emerged as the subject of controversial result in correlation with suicide attempt. Further studies should be performed to confirm the influence of allelic variation of serotonin receptor on elevated risk of auto-aggression behavior. The aim of our study was to examine the frequency and genotype distribution of C(-1019)G polymorphism of regulatory region 5-HT1A receptor in the group of 65 suicide attempters and 63 persons in the control group. Using allele specific amplification PCR (ASA-PCR), we found that allele G was higher in suicidal attempters. The genotype frequency was significantly different between hospitalized patients and control subjects. The most common intoxication causes were antidepressants (56.9%), analgesics (18.5%) and cardiologic drugs (10.8%). Our data support hypothesis which indicate role of the 5-HT1A C(-1019)G SNP polymorphism in elevated risk of suicidal attempt.