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Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Brummett, BH; Boyle, SH; Siegler, IC; Kuhn, CM; Ashley-Koch, A; Jonassaint, CR; Züchner, S; Collins, A; Williams, RB
Published in: Behav Genet
January 2008

The short (s) variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene linked functional polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is associated with depression. Stressful life events, gender, and race have been shown to moderate this association. We examined the relationship between 5-HTTLPR genotype and symptoms of depression in two samples. Study 1 = 288 participants from a study of caregiver stress; and Study 2 = 142 participants from a study examining psychosocial stressors, genetics, and health. Main effects of 5-HTTLPR on symptoms of depression were examined, along with moderation by stress (caregiving status or low childhood socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and race. The 5-HTTLPR x stress group x gender interaction was significant in both samples (P < 0.003, and P < 0.008, respectively). For females, the s allele, combined with caregiving stress (Study 1) or low childhood SES (Study 2), was associated with higher depression scores as compared to participants in the non-stressor group and those with the long (l) allele; whereas, in males, the l allele, combined with a stressor, was associated with higher depression scores as compared to those in the non-stressor group and those with the s allele. Findings from two independent samples suggest that the association of 5-HTTLPR with depression varies according to gender and stressful life events.

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Published In

Behav Genet

DOI

ISSN

0001-8244

Publication Date

January 2008

Volume

38

Issue

1

Start / End Page

34 / 43

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Male
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Genotype
  • Genetics & Heredity
 

Citation

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Brummett, B. H., Boyle, S. H., Siegler, I. C., Kuhn, C. M., Ashley-Koch, A., Jonassaint, C. R., … Williams, R. B. (2008). Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). Behav Genet, 38(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-007-9172-1
Brummett, Beverly H., Stephen H. Boyle, Ilene C. Siegler, Cynthia M. Kuhn, Allison Ashley-Koch, Charles R. Jonassaint, Stephan Züchner, Ann Collins, and Redford B. Williams. “Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR).Behav Genet 38, no. 1 (January 2008): 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-007-9172-1.
Brummett BH, Boyle SH, Siegler IC, Kuhn CM, Ashley-Koch A, Jonassaint CR, et al. Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). Behav Genet. 2008 Jan;38(1):34–43.
Brummett, Beverly H., et al. “Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR).Behav Genet, vol. 38, no. 1, Jan. 2008, pp. 34–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10519-007-9172-1.
Brummett BH, Boyle SH, Siegler IC, Kuhn CM, Ashley-Koch A, Jonassaint CR, Züchner S, Collins A, Williams RB. Effects of environmental stress and gender on associations among symptoms of depression and the serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). Behav Genet. 2008 Jan;38(1):34–43.
Journal cover image

Published In

Behav Genet

DOI

ISSN

0001-8244

Publication Date

January 2008

Volume

38

Issue

1

Start / End Page

34 / 43

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Male
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Genotype
  • Genetics & Heredity