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A polymorphism in the serotonin receptor 3A (HTR3A) gene and its association with harm avoidance in women

Melke, Jonas ; Westberg, Lars ; Nilsson, Staffan ; Landen, Mikael ; Anckarsäter, Henrik LU ; Baghaei, Fariba ; Rosmond, Roland ; Holm, Goran ; Bjorntorp, Per and Nilsson, Lars-Goran , et al. (2003) In Archives of General Psychiatry 60(10). p.1017-1023
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The brain neurotransmitter serotonin is known to affect various aspects of human behavior, including personality traits. Serotonin receptor type 3 is a ligand-gated channel encoded by 2 different subunit genes, HTR3A and HTR3B. A polymorphism (C178T) in the 5' region of the HTR3A gene has recently been identified and suggested to be of functional importance. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the possible association between the C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene and personality traits in women. DESIGN: Two independent samples of 35- to 45-year-old Swedish women were recruited using the population register. Sample 1 (n = 195) was assessed via the Karolinska Scales of Personality and the Temperament and Character Inventory; sample 2 (n =... (More)
BACKGROUND: The brain neurotransmitter serotonin is known to affect various aspects of human behavior, including personality traits. Serotonin receptor type 3 is a ligand-gated channel encoded by 2 different subunit genes, HTR3A and HTR3B. A polymorphism (C178T) in the 5' region of the HTR3A gene has recently been identified and suggested to be of functional importance. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the possible association between the C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene and personality traits in women. DESIGN: Two independent samples of 35- to 45-year-old Swedish women were recruited using the population register. Sample 1 (n = 195) was assessed via the Karolinska Scales of Personality and the Temperament and Character Inventory; sample 2 (n = 175) was assessed using the latter only. Both samples were genotyped with respect to the C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene. The A1596G polymorphism in the same gene was also investigated. RESULTS: A significant association between C178T genotype and the Temperament and Character Inventory factor harm avoidance was observed in sample 1 (corrected for multiple comparisons P =.04); this finding was subsequently replicated in sample 2 (P =.004) (pooled populations: P<.001). In the pooled sample, all harm avoidance subscales were found to be significantly associated with the C178T polymorphism: anticipatory worry (P =.001), fear of uncertainty (P<.001), shyness (P<.001), and fatigability and asthenia (P =.008). In addition, a significant association was found in sample 1 between the C178T polymorphism and the Karolinska Scales of Personality nonconformity factor (corrected P =.002), including the subscales of social desirability (P<.001), indirect aggression (P =.002), verbal aggression (P =.05), and irritability (P<.001). Participants homozygous for the less common T allele (<4%) differed from the remaining women by displaying lower ratings on harm avoidance and nonconformity. CONCLUSION: The C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene may affect the personality trait of harm avoidance in women. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Archives of General Psychiatry
volume
60
issue
10
pages
1017 - 1023
publisher
American Medical Association
external identifiers
  • pmid:14557147
  • scopus:10744223528
ISSN
0003-990X
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.60.10.1017
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
951535c7-2b1b-4027-a819-4f50cfcb7b70 (old id 1126652)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14557147
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=207921
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:00:51
date last changed
2022-04-21 01:09:03
@article{951535c7-2b1b-4027-a819-4f50cfcb7b70,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: The brain neurotransmitter serotonin is known to affect various aspects of human behavior, including personality traits. Serotonin receptor type 3 is a ligand-gated channel encoded by 2 different subunit genes, HTR3A and HTR3B. A polymorphism (C178T) in the 5' region of the HTR3A gene has recently been identified and suggested to be of functional importance. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the possible association between the C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene and personality traits in women. DESIGN: Two independent samples of 35- to 45-year-old Swedish women were recruited using the population register. Sample 1 (n = 195) was assessed via the Karolinska Scales of Personality and the Temperament and Character Inventory; sample 2 (n = 175) was assessed using the latter only. Both samples were genotyped with respect to the C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene. The A1596G polymorphism in the same gene was also investigated. RESULTS: A significant association between C178T genotype and the Temperament and Character Inventory factor harm avoidance was observed in sample 1 (corrected for multiple comparisons P =.04); this finding was subsequently replicated in sample 2 (P =.004) (pooled populations: P&lt;.001). In the pooled sample, all harm avoidance subscales were found to be significantly associated with the C178T polymorphism: anticipatory worry (P =.001), fear of uncertainty (P&lt;.001), shyness (P&lt;.001), and fatigability and asthenia (P =.008). In addition, a significant association was found in sample 1 between the C178T polymorphism and the Karolinska Scales of Personality nonconformity factor (corrected P =.002), including the subscales of social desirability (P&lt;.001), indirect aggression (P =.002), verbal aggression (P =.05), and irritability (P&lt;.001). Participants homozygous for the less common T allele (&lt;4%) differed from the remaining women by displaying lower ratings on harm avoidance and nonconformity. CONCLUSION: The C178T polymorphism in the HTR3A gene may affect the personality trait of harm avoidance in women.}},
  author       = {{Melke, Jonas and Westberg, Lars and Nilsson, Staffan and Landen, Mikael and Anckarsäter, Henrik and Baghaei, Fariba and Rosmond, Roland and Holm, Goran and Bjorntorp, Per and Nilsson, Lars-Goran and Adolfsson, Rolf and Eriksson, Elias}},
  issn         = {{0003-990X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{1017--1023}},
  publisher    = {{American Medical Association}},
  series       = {{Archives of General Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{A polymorphism in the serotonin receptor 3A (HTR3A) gene and its association with harm avoidance in women}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.60.10.1017}},
  doi          = {{10.1001/archpsyc.60.10.1017}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}