This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ishikawa, H. Articles by Arinami, T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ishikawa, H. Articles by Arinami, T.

Association between Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Smoking among Japanese Males

Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences [Ha. I., T. O., Hi. I., K. Y-K., H. H., T. A.], and Institute of Community Medicine [H. I., K. E., Y-L. L., H. Y., S. T.], University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575 Japan; and Rural Health Care Center, Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, 305-0053 Japan [K. K.]

The serotoninergic system may be involved in smoking behavior because nicotine increases brain serotonin secretion, nicotine withdrawal decreases serotonin levels, and a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antagonizes the response to nicotine. Compared with the L allele, the S allele of the polymorphism in the upstream regulatory region of the serotonin transporter gene is associated with decreased transcription efficiency of the 5-HTT gene promoter. We examined this polymorphism in a Japanese population consisting of 387 males from two different areas in Japan. The L allele was observed significantly more often in smokers (21%) than in nonsmokers (lifetime nonsmokers + ex-smokers, 14%; P = 0.005). The presence of the L allele (the L/L + L/S genotypes) was also significantly increased in smokers (37%) compared with that in nonsmokers (24%; P = 0.003). The present study suggests that individuals with the S/S genotype are less inclined to smoke and/or can more easily stop smoking than others, supporting a role of the serotoninergic system in smoking behavior.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Kremer, R. Bachner-Melman, A. Reshef, L. Broude, L. Nemanov, I. Gritsenko, U. Heresco-Levy, Y. Elizur, and R. P. Ebstein Association of the Serotonin Transporter Gene With Smoking Behavior Am J Psychiatry, May 1, 2005; 162(5): 924 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Batra, A. A. Patkar, W. H. Berrettini, S. P. Weinstein, and F. T. Leone The Genetic Determinants of Smoking Chest, May 1, 2003; 123(5): 1730 - 1739. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]