The state of serotonin protein-transporter in platelets of patients with somatoform disorders

The role of serotonin transporter (SERT) protein in the development of soma toform disorders (SD) was investigated. An association study was performed in terms of the evaluation of the level of SERT immunoreactive (IR-SERT) pr otein using site-specific antibodies directed at SERT C-terminus fragment, poorly conserved among the other cotransporters. The level of the anxious s ymptomatology was also estimated in the patients with SD. 22 patients, who met DSM-IV criteria for somatoform disorders, and 32 normals were examined. in platelets from normals, IR-SERT protein migrated as a difuse band betwe en 68 and 105 kDa, and a major sharper band at 43 kDa. Almost complete disa ppearance of platelet 43 kDa IR-SERT protein band was observed in most of t he patients with SD. These findings permitted to suggest a possibility of e ither biosynthetic or processing abnormality of SERTs in the affected popul ation, that might reflect a dysfunction of serotonin neurotransmission in C NS of the patients with SD.