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Volume 108, Issue 1, Pages 70-76 (1 April 2010)


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Association of polymorphisms of the serotonergic system with smoking initiation in Caucasians

Maria Iordanidoua, Anna Tavridoua, Ioannis Petridisab, Soultana Kyrogloub, Loukas Kaklamanisc, Dimitrios Christakidisb, Vangelis G. ManolopoulosaCorresponding Author Informationemail address

Received 7 July 2009; received in revised form 31 October 2009; accepted 17 November 2009.

Abstract 

Background

The serotonergic system may be implicated in susceptibility to nicotine dependence as nicotine increases 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release in brain and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal may be modulated by diminished serotonergic neurotransmission. We examined the association of polymorphisms of genes involved in release and receptor function of 5-HT with cigarette smoking initiation in subjects of Caucasian origin.

Methods

5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the 5-HT transporter gene and −759C/T (rs3813929) and −697G/C (rs518147) polymorphisms of the 5-HT2C receptor gene were analyzed in 172 smoking initiators and 254 non-initiators, using PCR–RFLP method. Smoking behavior was assessed with a questionnaire about tobacco use.

Results

We found no differences in the frequency of the 5-HTTLPR genotypes between smoking initiators and non-initiators. However, the frequency of 5-HT2C759T allele was significantly higher in non-initiators than smoking initiators (29.5% vs 16.3%, p=0.002) and the same was true for 5-HT2C697C allele carriers (48.8% vs 34.9%, p=0.004). Sex-dependent analysis revealed that these increased frequencies of −759T and −697C allele carriers were present only in males. No association was observed between any quantitative measures of smoking and these three polymorphisms.

Conclusions

5-HTTLPR polymorphism was not associated with smoking initiation in either male or female subjects. However, significant association was found between 5-HT2C receptor gene polymorphisms and smoking initiation in male Caucasian subjects.

a Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana Campus, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece

b Department of Internal Medicine, Academic General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis 68100, Greece

c Department of Pathology, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens 17674, Greece

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +30 2551 030523; fax: +30 2551 030523.

PII: S0376-8716(09)00424-4

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.11.015


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