Negative association between T102C polymorphism at the 5-HT2A receptor gene and bipolar affective disorders in Singaporean Chinese

Background: Serotonergic system abnormalities have been implicated in the p athogenesis of bipolar affective disorders. The 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2A (5HTR2A) receptor gene located on chromosome 13 (13q14-21) can be consider ed as a candidate gene for bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Methods: Seve nty-two patients with BPAD and 74 normal population controls were genotyped with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the 5HTR2A recepto r gene. Results: We report a negative association between 5HTR2A receptor g ene and BPAD. The association was examined using a case-control design. All ele and genotype frequencies as well as homozygote-heterozygote distributio n at the 5HTR2A receptor gene polymorphism were compared between the two gr oups. There were no significant differences in the allelic or genotype freq uencies and the homozygote-heterozygote distributions. Limitations: Patient s were recruited from one hospital in Singapore. The case-control study des ign needs replication. Conclusion: Our finding indicates that the 5HTR2A re ceptor gene polymorphism is not a major factor in the genetic susceptibilit y to BPAD in Singaporean Chinese. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.