TY - JOUR
T1 - Variants of the serotonin transporter gene and NEO-PI-R neuroticism
T2 - No association in the BLSA and SardiNIA samples
AU - Terracciano, Antonio
AU - Balaci, Lenuta
AU - Thayer, Jason
AU - Scally, Matthew
AU - Kokinos, Sarah
AU - Ferrucci, Luigi
AU - Tanaka, Toshiko
AU - Zonderman, Alan B.
AU - Sanna, Serena
AU - Olla, Nazario
AU - Zuncheddu, Maria Antonietta
AU - Naitza, Silvia
AU - Busonero, Fabio
AU - Uda, Manuela
AU - Schlessinger, David
AU - Abecasis, Gonçalo R.
AU - Costa, Paul T.
PY - 2009/12/5
Y1 - 2009/12/5
N2 - The polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) is by far the most studied variant hypothesized to influence Neuroticism-related personality traits. The results of previous studies have been mixed and appear moderated by the personality questionnaire used. Studies that used the TCI to assess Harm Avoidance or the EPQ to assess Neuroticism have found no association with the 5-HTTLPR. However, studies that used the NEO-PI-R or related instruments (NEO-PI, NEOFFI) to measure Neuroticism have found some evidence of association. This study examines the association of variants in the serotonin transporter gene in a sample from a genetically isolated population within Sardinia (Italy) that is several times larger than previous samples that used the NEO-PI-R (N = 3,913). The association was also tested in a sample (N = 548) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), in which repeatedNEO-PI-R assessments were obtained. In the SardiNIA sample, we found no significant association of the5-HTTLPRgenotypes with Neuroticism or its facets (Anxiety, Angry-Hostility, Depression, Self-Consciousness, Impulsiveness, and Vulnerability). In the BLSA sample, we found lower scores on Neuroticism traits for the heterozygous group, which is inconsistent with previous studies. We also examined eight SNPs in the SardiNIA (N=3,972) and nine SNPs in the BLSA (N=1,182) that map within or near the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), and found no association. Along with other large studies that used different phenotypic measures and found no association, this study substantially increases the evidence against a link between 5-HTT variants and Neuroticism-related traits.
AB - The polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene promoter region (5-HTTLPR) is by far the most studied variant hypothesized to influence Neuroticism-related personality traits. The results of previous studies have been mixed and appear moderated by the personality questionnaire used. Studies that used the TCI to assess Harm Avoidance or the EPQ to assess Neuroticism have found no association with the 5-HTTLPR. However, studies that used the NEO-PI-R or related instruments (NEO-PI, NEOFFI) to measure Neuroticism have found some evidence of association. This study examines the association of variants in the serotonin transporter gene in a sample from a genetically isolated population within Sardinia (Italy) that is several times larger than previous samples that used the NEO-PI-R (N = 3,913). The association was also tested in a sample (N = 548) from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), in which repeatedNEO-PI-R assessments were obtained. In the SardiNIA sample, we found no significant association of the5-HTTLPRgenotypes with Neuroticism or its facets (Anxiety, Angry-Hostility, Depression, Self-Consciousness, Impulsiveness, and Vulnerability). In the BLSA sample, we found lower scores on Neuroticism traits for the heterozygous group, which is inconsistent with previous studies. We also examined eight SNPs in the SardiNIA (N=3,972) and nine SNPs in the BLSA (N=1,182) that map within or near the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), and found no association. Along with other large studies that used different phenotypic measures and found no association, this study substantially increases the evidence against a link between 5-HTT variants and Neuroticism-related traits.
KW - 5-HTT
KW - Anxiety
KW - Depression
KW - GWA
KW - Personality
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=69249240601&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30932
DO - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30932
M3 - Article
C2 - 19199283
AN - SCOPUS:69249240601
SN - 1552-4841
VL - 150
SP - 1070
EP - 1077
JO - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
JF - American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics
IS - 8
ER -