Association of the 5HTR2A gene with suicidal behavior: case-control study and updated meta-analysis

BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 12:13:25. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-25.

Abstract

Background: The polymorphism rs6313 (T102C) has been associated with suicidal behavior in case-control and meta-analysis studies, but results and conclusions remain controversial. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between T102C with suicidal behavior in a case-control study and, to assess the combined evidence - this case-control study and available data from other related studies - we carried out a meta-analysis.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study that included 161 patients with suicide attempts and 244 controls; we then performed a meta-analysis. The following models were evaluated in the meta-analysis: A) C allele vs T allele; B) T allele vs C allele; C) Caucasian population, D) Asian population, and E) suicide attempters with schizophrenia.

Results: We found an association between attempted suicide and control participants for genotype (χ2=6.28, p=0.04, df=2) and allele (χ2=6.17, p=0.01, df=1, OR 1.48 95% IC: 1.08-2.03) frequencies in the case-control study. The meta-analysis, comprising 23 association studies (including the present one), showed that the rs6313 polymorphism is not associated with suicidal behavior for the following comparisons:T allele vs C allele (OR: 1.03; 95% CI 0.93-1.13; p(Z)=0.44); C allele vs T allele: (OR:0.99; 95% CI: 0.90-1.08; p(Z)=0.22); Caucasians (OR:1.09; 95% CI: 0.96-1.23), and Asians (OR:0.96; 95% CI: 0.84-1.09).

Conclusion: Our results showed association between the rs6313 (T102C) polymorphism and suicidal behavior in the case-control study. However, the meta-analysis showed no evidence of association. Therefore, more studies are necessary to determine conclusively an association between T102C and suicidal behavior.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / genetics*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A