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Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Williams, RB; Marchuk, DA; Siegler, IC; Barefoot, JC; Helms, MJ; Brummett, BH; Surwit, RS; Lane, JD; Kuhn, CM; Gadde, KM; Ashley-Koch, A ...
Published in: Psychosom Med
January 2008

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that low socioeconomic status (SES) and the 5HTTLPR L allele are associated with increased cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to stress in a larger sample and that SES and 5HTTLPR genotypes interact to enhance CVR to stress. CVR to mental stress has been proposed as one mechanism linking stress to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The more transcriptionally efficient long (L) allele of a polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene promoter (5HTTLPR) has been found associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction. We found the long allele associated with larger CVR to mental stress in a preliminary study of 54 normal volunteers. METHODS: Subjects included 165 normal community volunteers stratified for race, gender, and SES, who underwent mental stress testing. RESULTS: Childhood SES as indexed by Father's Education Level was associated with larger systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p < .05) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = .01) responses to mental stress. The L allele was associated with larger SBP (p = .04), DBP (p < .0001), and heart rate (p = .04) responses to mental stress compared with the short (S) allele. Subjects with the SS genotype and high Father's Education exhibited smaller SBP (5.2 mm Hg) and DBP (2.9 mm Hg) responses than subjects with LL genotype and low Father's Education (SBP = 13.3 mm Hg, p = .002; DBP = 9.7 mm Hg, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Both the 5HTTLPR long allele and low SES, particularly during childhood, are associated with increased CVR to mental stress, which could account, at least in part, for the increased cardiovascular disease risk associated with these characteristics. If confirmed in further research, these characteristics could be used to identify persons who might benefit from preventive interventions.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

January 2008

Volume

70

Issue

1

Start / End Page

32 / 39

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tryptophan
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Class
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Psychiatry
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Income
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Williams, R. B., Marchuk, D. A., Siegler, I. C., Barefoot, J. C., Helms, M. J., Brummett, B. H., … Schanberg, S. M. (2008). Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress. Psychosom Med, 70(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e31815f66c3
Williams, Redford B., Douglas A. Marchuk, Ilene C. Siegler, John C. Barefoot, Michael J. Helms, Beverly H. Brummett, Richard S. Surwit, et al. “Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress.Psychosom Med 70, no. 1 (January 2008): 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e31815f66c3.
Williams RB, Marchuk DA, Siegler IC, Barefoot JC, Helms MJ, Brummett BH, et al. Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress. Psychosom Med. 2008 Jan;70(1):32–9.
Williams, Redford B., et al. “Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress.Psychosom Med, vol. 70, no. 1, Jan. 2008, pp. 32–39. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31815f66c3.
Williams RB, Marchuk DA, Siegler IC, Barefoot JC, Helms MJ, Brummett BH, Surwit RS, Lane JD, Kuhn CM, Gadde KM, Ashley-Koch A, Svenson IK, Suarez EC, Schanberg SM. Childhood socioeconomic status and serotonin transporter gene polymorphism enhance cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress. Psychosom Med. 2008 Jan;70(1):32–39.

Published In

Psychosom Med

DOI

EISSN

1534-7796

Publication Date

January 2008

Volume

70

Issue

1

Start / End Page

32 / 39

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tryptophan
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Class
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin
  • Psychiatry
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Income