Association between obsessive-compulsive disorder and polymorphisms of genes encoding components of the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 205 - 209
• Main Authors: Frisch, A, Michaelovsky, E, Rockah, R, Amir, I, Hermesh, H, Laor, N, Fuchs, C, Zohar, J, Lerer, B, Buniak, S.F, Landa, S, Poyurovsky, M, Shapira, B, Weizman, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2000
• Subjects: Carrier Proteins - genetics; Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4); Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Dopamine transporter (DAT1); Humans; Jews - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Transport Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Receptors, Dopamine - genetics; Receptors, Serotonin - genetics; Serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A); Serotonin 2C receptor (HTR2C); Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Serotonin transporter (5-HTT); Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH); Serotonin transporter (5-HTT); Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH); Serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A); Serotonin 2C receptor (HTR2C); Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4); Dopamine transporter (DAT1)
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-977X(00)00071-7

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and disabling anxiety disorder with a marked genetic contribution. Pharmacological data indicated involvement of the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. We studied the association between OCD and six candidate genes encoding important components of the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways in 75 biologically unrelated patients and 172 ethnically matched controls (Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jews). Polymorphisms in the following genes were studied: tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A), serotonin 2C receptor (HTR2C), serotonin transporter (5-HTT), dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), and dopamine transporter (DAT1). The genotypic and allelic distribution of all polymorphisms tested did not show statistically significant differences between patients and controls. Our results suggest that these polymorphisms do not play a major role in the genetic predisposition to OCD, although a minor contribution cannot be ruled out.