Association Between Two Single-nucleotide Polymorphism of TAAR1 Gene and Suicide Attempts

Abstract

Introduction

TAAR1 is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed broadly throughout the brain. Recently, TAAR1 has been demonstrated to be an important modulator of the dopaminergic, serotonergic and glutamatergic activity.

Aims

Assessment of the relation between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms of TAAR1 gene, suicide attempts and alcohol abuse.

Methods

A total of 150 Polish patients were included, 59 subjects after suicide attempt vs. 91 controls. The chosen SNPs (rs759733834 and rs9402439) were studied using RFLP-PCR methods. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested in control group.

Statistical tests

Chi² or Yeates Chi² Test were used.

Results

The mean age of study subjects and controls was: 38 ± 12.3 and 42 ± 12.8 respectively; 49% study males vs. 54% male controls. We did not observe the association between the carriage of the genotypes GG, GA and AA of rs759733834 polymorphisms in either of the groups. The distribution of genotypes in respect to rs9402439 polymorphism (CC, CG, GG) was also insignificant. Among patients with alcohol dependence, the frequency G allele of rs9402439 polymorphism was lower compared to non-addicted ones (27 vs. 47%) P < 0.01.

Conclusions

TAAR1 polymorphisms rs759733834 and rs9402439 are not related to suicide attempts. The carriage of allele G of rs9402439 polymorphism is related to lower risk of alcohol addiction OR 0.40 95%Cl 0.20–0.81. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the TAAR1 receptor and the risk of suicide and it might offer a new insight into genetic etiology of TAAR1 receptor.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.