Pharmacogenetics of monoamine transporters

The monoamine transporters are the sites of action of the most commonly used psychoactive compounds in therapeutic use today as well as the psychostimulant drugs of abuse. These transporters have been the focus of a large number of genetic association studies of complex behavioral phenomena. More recently, pharmacogenetic studies have suggested an association between a functional regulatory polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene and antidepressant response. This review will discuss the clinical pharmacology of the monoamine transporters, their molecular genetic variability and the results of several association studies of the transporters and psychoactive drug response.