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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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01-09-2010 | Original Paper

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, platelet serotonin transporter activity and platelet serotonin content in underweight and weight-recovered females with anorexia nervosa

Authors: Stefan Ehrlich, Leonora Franke, Susann Scherag, Roland Burghardt, Regina Schott, Nora Schneider, Simone Brockhaus, Jakob Hein, Ralf Uebelhack, Ulrike Lehmkuhl

Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Issue 6/2010

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) pathways play an important role in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). In this study, we investigated functional characteristics of the platelet 5-HT transporter and platelet 5-HT content in AN patients at various stages of their illness in comparison to healthy control woman (HCW) controlling for the 5-HTTLPR deletion/insertion polymorphism and other confounding variables. Fasting blood samples of 58 acutely underweight AN patients (acAN, BMI = 15.2 ± 1.4), 26 AN patients of the initial acAN sample after short-term/partial weight restoration (BMI = 17.3 ± 0.9), 36 weight-recovered AN patients (recAN, BMI = 20.7 ± 2.2) and 58 HCW (BMI = 21.6 ± 2.0) were assessed for kinetic characteristics of platelet 5-HT uptake (V _max, K _m) and platelet 5-HT content. Plasma leptin served as an indicator of malnutrition. Mean V _max and K _m values were significantly higher in recAN subjects in comparison to HCW (2.05 ± 0.62 vs. 1.66 ± 0.40 nmol 5-HT/10⁹ platelets min and 432 ± 215 vs. 315 ± 136 nmol, respectively) but there were no differences in platelet 5-HT content (464.8 ± 210.6 vs. 472.0 ± 162.2 ng 5-HT/10⁹ platelets). 5-HT parameters in acAN patients and HCW were similar. 5-HTTLPR variants were not related to 5-HT platelet variables. In the longitudinal part of the study we found significantly increased 5-HT content but unchanged 5-HT uptake in AN patients after short-term/partial weight restoration. Our results highlight the importance of malnutrition for the interpretation of abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems in AN. Changes in platelet 5-HT transporter activity were related to the stage of the illness but not to 5-HTTLPR genotype. Increased V _max and K _m in recovered AN patients might mirror adaptive modulations of the 5-HT system.

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Title: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, platelet serotonin transporter activity and platelet serotonin content in underweight and weight-recovered females with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Stefan Ehrlich
Leonora Franke
Susann Scherag
Roland Burghardt
Regina Schott
Nora Schneider
Simone Brockhaus
Jakob Hein
Ralf Uebelhack
Ulrike Lehmkuhl
Publication date: 01-09-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Issue 6/2010
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Electronic ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-009-0092-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, platelet serotonin transporter activity and platelet serotonin content in underweight and weight-recovered females with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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