The diagnosis of current depression, which was associated with IFN-α-related depression (P<.001), demonstrated a statistically significant association with the CC genotype of the 5-HTR1A gene (odds ratio=5.57, 95% confidence interval=1.61-19.24, P=.007).
Positron emission tomography and post-mortem studies of the number of somatodendritic 5-hydroxytryptamine(1A) (5-HT(1A)) autoreceptors in raphé nuclei have found both increases and decreases in depression.
In this review, we examine the function of 5-HT(1A) receptor subpopulations and re-interpret our understanding of their role in mental illness in light of new data, separating both spatial (autoreceptor versus heteroreceptor) and the temporal (developmental versus adult) roles of the endogenous 5-HT(1A) receptors, emphasizing their distinct actions in mediating anxiety and depression-like behaviors.
We present evidence that by targeting specific transcription factors it may be possible to oppositely regulate 5-HT1A auto- and heteroreceptor expression, synergistically increasing serotonergic neurotransmission for the treatment of depression.