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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism and stress predicts depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: a multi-wave longitudinal study

Authors: Qing-sen Ming, Yun Zhang, Qiao-lian Chai, Hai-yan Chen, Chan-juan Hou, Meng-cheng Wang, Yu-ping Wang, Lin Cai, Xiong-zhao Zhu, Jin-yao Yi, Shu-qiao Yao

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene may play an important role in the onset and development of mental disorders. Past studies have tested whether a functional polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) moderated the association between stress and depressive symptoms, but the results of these studies were inconsistent. Thus, the aim of the current study was to examine the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress that predict depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents.

Methods

A total of 252 healthy adolescents (131 females and 121 males, aged from 14 to 18, mean = 16.00, standard deviation = 0.60) participated in this study. During the initial assessment, all participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Adolescent Life Events Questionnaire (ALEQ) and were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. Participants subsequently completed CES-D and ALEQ once every three months during the subsequent 24 months. A multilevel model was used to investigate the 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction in predicting depressive symptoms.

Results

The results indicated no main effect of 5-HTTLPR and a significant 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction in females only. Females with at least one 5-HTTLPR S allele exhibited more depressive symptoms under stressful situations. No significant 5-HTTLPR × stress interaction was found in males.

Conclusions

In Chinese adolescents, there are gender differences on the interaction between 5-HTTLPR and stress that predict depressive symptoms. The association between stress and depressive symptoms is moderated by 5-HTTLPR in Chinese female adolescents.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Interaction between a serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphism and stress predicts depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: a multi-wave longitudinal study
Authors
Qing-sen Ming
Yun Zhang
Qiao-lian Chai
Hai-yan Chen
Chan-juan Hou
Meng-cheng Wang
Yu-ping Wang
Lin Cai
Xiong-zhao Zhu
Jin-yao Yi
Shu-qiao Yao
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-142

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