SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER PROMOTER POLYMORPHISM IN ARGENTINEAN POPULATION.

ERRASTI A, ARMESTO A, DARAY F, FACCONE D, GIRON S, MAFFÍA P.

Rosario, Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina

Congreso; XLI Reunión Anual de la Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE); 2009

Asociación Argentina de Farmacología Experimental (SAFE)

Serotonin Transporter Promoter Polymorphism in Argentinean Population. 1Errasti A, 1Armesto A, 1Daray F, 2Faccone D, 2Giron S, 1,2Maffía P. 1III Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires. 2Laboratorio de Estudios Genéticos Aplicados (EGA), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (UNQ). farmaco3@fmed.uba.ar Introduction: the promoter region of serotonin transporter gene contains a functional polymorphism with two alleles that have been designated the short (S) and long (L) alleles. The serotonin transporter is the target of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) and several studies have found that the L allele is associated with better response to SSRI treatment than the S allele. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotype and allelic frequencies in the Argentinean population to assess possible implications for treatment. Methods: genomic DNA samples from 145 individuals were isolated from whole blood or buccal swabs after written consent to perform genetic tests accordingly to standard procedures at the EGA laboratory, UNQ. Genetic allelic variation was determined by PCR amplification with specific primers. Alleles were designated S (375 bp) and L (419 bp). Results: observed genotypes were: SS (37%), LS (38%) and LL (25%) giving allele frequencies S (0.56) and L (0.44) in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (c2 =7.637, dF=1, p<0.005). Conclusions: serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism was evaluated in a randomized Argentinean population. The frequencies calculated herein differ from other countries, suggesting that future studies considering the impact of these alleles on treatment response in Argentinean population should be performed.