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Correlation between SERT polymorphisms and Venlafaxine response in major depression patients

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Abstract

Major depression (MD) has a complex multifactorial aetiology with genetic and environmental factors contributing to this disorder. As with all antidepressant treatments, there is variability in drug response because of heredity, and this leads us to focus on the genetic polymorphism of the drug’s metabolising transporter genes. The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene is a particularly important candidate for genetic involvement in MD disorders owing to its key role in the regulation of serotonergic transmission and is therefore considered an interesting candidate in the mechanism of antidepressant drugs. Here, we studied the associations between genetic polymorphisms in two regions of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR and VNTR) to understand venlafaxine response. Venlafaxine was found to be effective in MD patients based on their HAM-D and CGI scores (p<0.05). Although the results did not yield a significant difference between the frequencies of the SS, LS, LL, 9/9, 10/10, 12/12 and 10/12 genotypes and venlafaxine response, venlafaxine dose was increased in patients with Stin2.12 and S alleles. These alleles might have a predisposition to mood disorders. Further studies with more patients are required to confirm this clinical association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06510, Ankara, Turkey

    Nevzat Yuksel, Hatice Ersin Karslioglu & Aysegul Koc

  2. Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06510, Ankara, Turkey

    Ozlem Dogan, Akin Yilmaz & Adnan Menevse

  3. Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06510, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Ali Ergun

  4. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, 06510, Ankara, Turkey

    Mustafa N. Ilhan

Authors
  1. Nevzat Yuksel
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  2. Ozlem Dogan
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  3. Mehmet Ali Ergun
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  4. Hatice Ersin Karslioglu
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  5. Aysegul Koc
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  6. Akin Yilmaz
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  7. Mustafa N. Ilhan
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  8. Adnan Menevse
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Correspondence to Nevzat Yuksel.

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Yuksel, N., Dogan, O., Ergun, M.A. et al. Correlation between SERT polymorphisms and Venlafaxine response in major depression patients. Genes Genom 32, 217–223 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-009-0894-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-009-0894-8

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