Korean J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2004 Dec;10(2):125-129.

Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and its Relationship to Plasma Serotonin in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Park H
• Lee DY
• Kim MS
• Choi EJ
• Kim YG
• Ji SW
• Lee SI

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Serotonin is an important mediator of intestinal peristalsis and it undergoes reuptake by a transporter protein (SERT). It has been reported that polymorphisms in the promoter for synthesis of SERT (SERT-P) influence the response to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a serotonin receptor antagonist. The aim of this study was to investigate gene polymorphism in the SERT-P in healthy adults and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a plasma serotonin level according to genetic polymorphism.
METHODS
SERT gene polymorphism was assessed by polymerase chain reaction on DNA chains in serum samples from 53 patients with IBS and 56 healthy adults. The platelet-depleted plasma serotonin level of a fasting state was quantitatively measured by ELISA.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the allele frequency between the IBS and the control group, and according to the subtypes of IBS patients. The platelet-depleted plasma serotonin level was significantly higher in IBS patients than in controls (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the plasma serotonin level according to the subtypes of IBS or genetic polymorphism of SERT-P.
CONCLUSIONS
SERT-P is not a key factor in determining the development of IBS in Korea. Patients with IBS have significantly higher fasting plasma serotonin levels than controls, irrespective of genetic polymorphism at SERT-P.

Keyword

Irritable bowel syndrome; Serotonin; Serotonin transporter protein

MeSH Terms

Adult
DNA
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Fasting
Gene Frequency
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome*
Korea
Peristalsis
Plasma*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Genetic
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins*
Serotonin*
DNA
Serotonin
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins