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Published on: November 30, 2016
Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and irritable bowel syndrome
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Polymorphisms in the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene are linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in Koreans. Specifically, the SERT deletion/deletion genotype is more frequent in diarrhea-predominant IBS patients.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Gastroenterology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder.
- Disturbances in gut function in IBS may be linked to genetic variations, such as polymorphisms in the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene.
- Previous association studies on SERT polymorphisms and IBS have yielded inconsistent results across different populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene polymorphisms and IBS in the Korean population.
- To determine if specific SERT genotypes are more prevalent in Korean IBS patients compared to healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping was performed on 190 Korean IBS patients meeting Rome II criteria and 437 healthy Korean controls.
- Analysis focused on polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene.
- Statistical analysis was used to compare genotype frequencies between IBS and control groups.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in SERT polymorphisms was observed between IBS patients and controls (P = 0.014).
- The SERT deletion/deletion genotype was found more frequently in the diarrhea-predominant IBS subgroup compared to controls (P = 0.012).
- No significant association was found between SERT genotypes and other clinical symptoms of IBS.
Conclusions:
- The serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) gene polymorphism is significantly associated with IBS in Koreans.
- The SERT deletion/deletion genotype is particularly linked to diarrhea-predominant IBS in this population.
- The SERT gene is a potential candidate gene contributing to the pathophysiology of IBS in Korea.
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