Journal article
The integrated model of serotonin transporter gene variation (5HTTLPR) and the glial cell transporter in stress vulnerability and depression
Medical hypotheses, Vol.78(3), pp.410-414
03/2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.10.043
PMID: 22236459
Abstract
The serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) promoter polymorphism (5HTTLPR) has been associated with individual stress responses such that individuals with childhood abuse history have higher rates of depression in later life if they are homozygous short (s/s) of the gene. It is hypothesized that these findings could be explained by an integrated model of a role of the glial cell transporter and a functional difference of 5HTTLPR in the capacity of absorbing serotonin from the synapse. A hypothetical integrated model of the SLC6A4 function and the role of glial cells are put forward to explain accumulating results of recent investigations exploring the relationship between the gene and the diverse mental activities including depression and stress response. A model based on SLC6A4 variation is proposed to explain individual differences in stress vulnerability/resilience. The role of the glial cell transporter surrounding the synapse is integrated in the model to understand the modulation of the neurotransmission. It is hypothesized that a synapse with less serotonin transporter contributes to unstable processing in neurotransmission as compared to a synapse with more serotonin transporter. As such, based on functional differences of 5HTTLPR in the expression of the serotonin transporter, it is asserted that individuals with the s/s genotype process neurotransmission differently and in a reactive way. This integrated model of 5HTTLPR and glial cells suggests that the efficacy of serotonin reuptake in the synapse may play a crucial role in variability of neurotransmission, which can lead to differences in the stress response and the pathophysiology of depression.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The integrated model of serotonin transporter gene variation (5HTTLPR) and the glial cell transporter in stress vulnerability and depression
- Creators
- Gen Shinozaki - Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States. gen.shinozaki@gmail.com
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Medical hypotheses, Vol.78(3), pp.410-414
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.10.043
- PMID
- 22236459
- ISSN
- 0306-9877
- eISSN
- 1532-2777
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/2012
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Anesthesia; Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9984003433102771
Metrics
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