Our findings provide evidence for an involvement of genetic variants of the TPH2 gene in the pathogenesis of MD and might be a hint on the repeatedly discussed duality of the serotonergic system.
This SNP and additional SNPs were discovered through a systematic characterization of the genetic architecture of the TPH2 gene for further genetic and functional investigations of its relationship to major depression and other psychopathology.
The mechanisms underlying these changes are uncertain, but increased TPH2 expression and serotonin turnover could result from genetic influences, adverse early life experiences, or acute stressful life events, all of which can alter serotonergic neurotransmission and have been implicated in determining vulnerability to major depression.
Furthermore, an increased frequency of G allele of TPH2 SNP may be associated with elevated suicidal behavior itself rather than with the diagnosis of major depression and may increase risk of suicidality, independent of diagnosis.
Although the sample size is small, results from this study suggest that the TPH2C2755A polymorphism may represent a population-specific risk factor for peripartum major depression and anxiety disorder, perhaps by interacting with hormones.
Those who did not drink alcohol before suicide were more likely to have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder in their medical record and more often had the TT genotype of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene.
In total, 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding regions of 10 serotonergic genes (HTR1A, HTR1B, HTR1D, HTR2A, HTR3A, HTR3C, HTR3D, HTR3E, HTR5A and TPH2) were genotyped in 308 Chinese Han patients with major depressive disorder.
A rare mutation in tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2), the rate limiting enzyme for 5-HT synthesis, was identified in several patients with major depression, and knock-in mice expressing the analogous mutation (R439H Tph2 KI) show 80% reduction in 5-HT synthesis and tissue levels.
Although the majority of first-line antidepressants increase brain serotonin and rare polymorphisms in tryptophan hydroxlase-2 (Tph2), the rate-limiting enzyme in the brain serotonin synthesis pathway, have been identified in cohorts of subjects with major depressive disorder, the circuit level alterations that results from serotonergic hypofunction remain poorly understood.
Although the majority of first-line antidepressants increase brain serotonin and rare polymorphisms in tryptophan hydroxlase-2 (Tph2), the rate-limiting enzyme in the brain serotonin synthesis pathway, have been identified in cohorts of subjects with major depressive disorder, the circuit level alterations that results from serotonergic hypofunction remain poorly understood.
Although the majority of first-line antidepressants increase brain serotonin and rare polymorphisms in tryptophan hydroxlase-2 (Tph2), the rate-limiting enzyme in the brain serotonin synthesis pathway, have been identified in cohorts of subjects with major depressive disorder, the circuit level alterations that results from serotonergic hypofunction remain poorly understood.
Polymorphisms in the gene encoding the serotonin synthesis enzyme Tph2 have been identified in mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, major depression, autism, schizophrenia, and ADHD.