Serotonin transporter gene-linked promotor-polymorphism and DNA methylation involved in personalized impulsivity

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25640041
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Neurochemistry/Neuropharmacology
• Research Institution: Kurume University
• Principal Investigator: NOMURA Yasuyuki 久留米大学, 医学部, 教授 (00034041)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): NOMURA Michio 京都大学, 大学院教育学研究科, 准教授 (60399011)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): IWAMOTO Kazuya 東京大学, 医学部付属病院, 准教授 (40342753) ; BUNTOU Miki 東京大学, 医学部付属病院, 助教 (00597221)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 衝動性 / セロトニントランスポータ遺伝子多型 / DNA メチル化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined effects of serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) genotypes on motor regulatory process, as observed during a Go/Nogo punishment feedback task. 5-HTT gene-linked promoter polymorphisms were analyzed　by using lymphocytes from 60 healthy Japanese volunteers. Impulsivity was defined as the number of commission errors (responding when one should not) made during a Go/Nogo task. We found that the s/s group made fewer impulsive responses, under aversive conditions for committing such errors, compared to those in the s/l group, without affecting motor inhibition, suggesting that 5-HTTLPRs do not directly affect the behavioral regulatory process itself, but may instead exert an effect on the evaluation of potential risk. The results also indicate that under such aversive conditions, decreased expression of 5-HTT may promote motor inhibitory control.Then we found 10% DNA methylation ratio in downstream of CPG island　of 5-HTTLPR in buccal cells which is less than 30% in blood samples.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学