PTSDgene database

Pathway Enrichment Analysis Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Study Report

Study Information

Basic Info

Reference	Pietrzak, R. H.,2013 PMID: 23183127
Citation	Pietrzak, R. H., et al. (2013). "Examining the relation between the serotonin transporter 5-HTTPLR genotype x trauma exposure interaction on a contemporary phenotypic model of posttraumatic stress symptomatology: a pilot study." J Affect Disord 148(1): 123-128.
Phenotype	Severity of PTSD symptoms, PTSD diagnosis, Anxious arousal symptoms, Reexperiencing symptoms, Avoidance symptoms, Numbing symptoms, Dysphoric arousal symptoms
Trauma	Hurricane Ike
Study Design	Case-control
Study Type	Candidate gene association study, Gene-environment interaction study
Sample Size	149 respondents
SNP/Marker Size	1 Variant
Predominant Ethnicity	Caucasian, Black
Population	71.2% were European American, and 28.8% were non-European American (10.3% Hispanic, 9.6% Black, and 8.9% other, non-Hispanic).
Gender	86 (58.9%) female
Age	Mean age=53.1 years, SD=17.8, range from 18 to 92.

Detail Info

Sample Diagnosis	DSM-IV
Related Diagnostic Tools	PTSD Checklist-Specific Stressor Version (PCL)
Sample Status	Adults aged 18 or older who had been living in Galveston County or Chambers County, Texas, for at least one month before September 13, 2008, when Hurricane Ike made landfall, participated in this study.
Controls Exposed	Not mentioned.
Replication Size	None
Result Summary	Results:After adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores, the interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x trauma exposure was significantly associated with both severity (B=.40, P-value<.001) and probable diagnosis (Wald=4.55, P-value=.033; odds ratio=3.81, 95%CI=1.11-13.03) of Ike-related PTSD. Respondents with the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTPLR polymorphism (S allele) who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike reported significantly greater severity of PTSD symptoms and were more likely to screen positive for PTSD than respondents homozygous for the L allele who were highly exposed to Hurricane Ike. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a 5-factor model of intercorrelated re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, dysphoric arousal, and anxious arousal symptoms provided the best structural representation of PTSD symptomatology. The 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure interaction was significant only for anxious arousal (B=.44, P-value<.001) and re-experiencing (B=.35, P-value<.001) symptoms, but not avoidance, numbing, or dysphoric arousal symptoms (all B's<=.20, all P's>.13). Conclusion:Results of this pilot study suggest that the low-expression variant of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism modifies risk for PTSD, but that this effect may be specific to anxious arousal and re-experiencing symptoms.
Potential Biomarker	None

Genetic result reported by this study

Normal genetic result reported by this study (count: 2)

Marker	Phenotype	Related Gene	Statistical Values	Author Comments	Marker's Category
5-HTTLPR	PTSD diagnosis	SLC6A4	S' allele: Wald=2.47, OR=7.46, 95%CI=0.61-91.46	Main effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype was not significant in the...... Main effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype was not significant in these analyses. More...	Non-significant
5-HTTLPR	Severity of PTSD symptoms	SLC6A4	S' allele: B=0.15, P-value=0.08 (adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores).	Main effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype was not significant in the...... Main effects of 5-HTTLPR genotype was not significant in these analyses. More...	Non-significant

Gene * Environment result reported by this study (count: 7)

Marker	Phenotype	Related Gene	Environment	Statistical Values	Author Comments	Marker's Category
5-HTTLPR	Dysphoric arousal symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR S' allele x exposure:B=.13, t=.93, P-value<=.36	Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x ex...... Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x exposure interaction was not significantly associated with dysphoric arousal symptoms. More...	Non-significant
5-HTTLPR	Anxious arousal symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR S' allele x exposure:B=.44, t=5.47, P-value<.001	Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x ex...... Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x exposure interaction was significantly associated with anxious arousal symptoms. More...	Significant
5-HTTLPR	Reexperiencing symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR S' allele x exposure:B=.35, t=4.56, P-value<<.001	Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x ex...... Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x exposure interaction was significantly associated with re-experiencing symptoms. More...	Significant
5-HTTLPR	Avoidance symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR S' allele x exposure:B=.08, t=.55, P-value<=.59	Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x ex...... Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x exposure interaction was not significantly associated with avoidance symptoms. More...	Non-significant
5-HTTLPR	Numbing symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR S' allele x exposure:B=.20, t=1.49, P-value<=.14	Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x ex...... Secondary analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR S' allele x exposure interaction was not significantly associated with numbing symptoms. More...	Non-significant
5-HTTLPR	Diagnosis of PTSD	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure: Wald=4.55, OR=3.81, 95%CI=1.11-13.03, P-value<0.05.	Results of these analyses revealed that after adjustment for...... Results of these analyses revealed that after adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores, the interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure was significantly associated with probable diagnosis of Ike-related PTSD. More...	Significant
5-HTTLPR	Severity of PTSD symptoms	SLC6A4	High exposure	The interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure: B=0.40, P-value<0.001.	Results of these analyses revealed that after adjustment for...... Results of these analyses revealed that after adjustment for age, sex, and ancestral proportion scores, the interaction of 5-HTTPLR genotype x exposure was significantly associated with severity of Ike-related PTSD. More...	Significant