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Inter-relationships of intermediate phenotypes for serotonin function, impulsivity, and a 5-HT2A candidate allele: His452Tyr

Molecular Psychiatry volume 9, pages 871–878 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) function has a role in a range of genetically influenced psychiatric diagnoses and behaviors. Several human 5-HT receptor polymorphisms are ‘candidate alleles’, altering in vitro function, and potentially affecting behavior and drug response. The 5-HT2A His452Tyr polymorphism alters signal transduction, and has been associated with diminished efficacy of clozapine in schizophrenia. Another 5-HT2A receptor polymorphism consists of the silent thymidine-cytosine substitution (102T>C), which has been controversially associated with schizophrenia. We investigated the role of His452Tyr and the 102T>C in behavior and in vivo intermediate biochemical phenotypes. Intracellular 5-HT-induced Ca2+ release by platelets and fenfluramine-induced prolactin release by pituitary were evaluated in 27 psychiatrically interviewed subjects (including both impulsive patients and controls) stratified by His452Tyr genotype and also genotyped for a second 5-HT2A polymorphism, 102T>C. Subjects with increased measures of impulsivity showed decreased postreceptor 5-HT function, as indicated by reduced 5-HT-induced Ca2+ release, but no alteration in net 5-HT function, as measured by fenfluramine response. No significant effects of either polymorphism were associated with altered 5-HT-induced calcium response or fenfluramine-stimulated prolactin release. One available Tyr452/Tyr452 homozygote had diminished Ca2+ release and one of the highest levels of fenfluramine response. Although not statistically significant, the effect of the T102C, but not the His452Tyr, genotype on prolactin level change over time was associated with a medium to large strength of association (treatment magnitude of T2=0.10), suggesting that further study is warranted.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by VA Medical Research Service, NARSAD, VISN 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA, USA

    C Reist, R Vu & K Fujimoto

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    C Reist

  3. Laboratory of Neurogenetics, NIAAA, Rockville, MD, USA

    C Mazzanti & D Goldman

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  1. C Reist
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  2. C Mazzanti
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  3. R Vu
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  4. K Fujimoto
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  5. D Goldman
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Correspondence to C Reist.

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Reist, C., Mazzanti, C., Vu, R. et al. Inter-relationships of intermediate phenotypes for serotonin function, impulsivity, and a 5-HT2A candidate allele: His452Tyr. Mol Psychiatry 9, 871–878 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001495

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Keywords

  • serotonin
  • platelet
  • calcium
  • T102C
  • His452Tyr
  • impulsivity
  • fenfluramine

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