The 5-HTTLPR confers susceptibility to anorexia nervosa in Han Chinese: evidence from a case-control and family-based study.

Jue Chen,Chen Zhang,Mingdao Zhang,Juan Fan,Shunying Yu,Qing Kang,Wenhui Jiang,Qiang WANG

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119378

Jue Chen, Chen Zhang + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0119378

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Abstract

Accumulating evidence has implied that serotonin system dysfunction may be involved in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism is the genetic variant coding for the serotonin transporter and has a modulatory effect on its expression. This study aimed to investigate the possible association between the 5-HTTLPR and the susceptibility and severity of AN in Han Chinese using a case-control (255 patients and 351 controls) and family based study (198 trios). Eating disorder examination was used to measure the severity of AN behavioral symptoms. For the case-control study, the 5-HTTLPR showed significant association with AN in our sample (genotypic P = 0.03). The frequency of S allele was significantly higher in patients than that in controls (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.06–1.79, P = 0.017). For the family-based study, the S allele of 5-HTTLPR was preferentially transmitted rather than non-transmitted from the parents to affected offspring (P = 0.013). The results of ANCOVA test revealed no significant association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and severity of AN. Our findings suggested that 5-HTTLPR is able to confer susceptibility to AN in Han Chinese.

Highlights

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder, characterized by excessive food restriction, typically arising from a morbid fear of weight gain that motivates patients to avoid eating
There were no significant differences between the patients with AN and control subjects with respect to age and sex
The results of ANCOVA test revealed no significant association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and severity of AN (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder, characterized by excessive food restriction, typically arising from a morbid fear of weight gain that motivates patients to avoid eating. The pathogenesis of AN remains unknown, several lines of evidence supported the idea that AN is frequently associated with symptoms of anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness and depression, and same pathophysiological mechanisms may underlie these symptoms [1]. Serotonin (5-HT) is a major neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). 5-HT modulates various CNS physiological activities including food intake, the sleepwake cycle, cognition, and a wide repertoire of emotional behaviors [2]. Current studies have indicated that 5-HT system is involved in various psychiatric disorders and in the regulation of the feeling of satiety [3]. It has been implied that 5-HT activity may be important in the physiopathology of AN [4].

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