Abstract
In a prospective-longitudinal study of a representative birth cohort, we tested why stressful experiences lead to depression in some people but not in others. A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HT T) gene was found to moderate the influence of stressful life events on depression. Individuals with one or two copies of the short allele of the 5-HT T promoter polymorphism exhibited more depressive symptoms, diagnosable depression, and suicidality in relation to stressful life events than individuals homozygous for the long allele. This epidemiological study thus provides evidence of a gene-by-environment interaction, in which an individual's response to environmental insults is moderated by his or her genetic makeup.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Adult
-
Alleles*
-
Carrier Proteins / genetics*
-
Child
-
Child Abuse
-
Depression / etiology
-
Depression / genetics*
-
Depressive Disorder / etiology
-
Depressive Disorder / genetics*
-
Disease Susceptibility
-
Female
-
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
-
Heterozygote
-
Homozygote
-
Humans
-
Longitudinal Studies
-
Male
-
Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
-
Membrane Transport Proteins*
-
Monoamine Oxidase / genetics
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins*
-
Polymorphism, Genetic*
-
Probability
-
Promoter Regions, Genetic
-
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
-
Stress, Psychological / genetics*
-
Suicide, Attempted
Substances
-
Carrier Proteins
-
Membrane Glycoproteins
-
Membrane Transport Proteins
-
Nerve Tissue Proteins
-
SLC6A4 protein, human
-
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
-
Monoamine Oxidase