Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice
Published on: September 20, 2024
Pharmacogenetic Study of Serotonin Transporter and 5HT2A Genotypes in Autism
Fedra Najjar1, Thomas Owley2, Matthew W Mosconi3
11 Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) and serotonin-2A receptor (HTR2A) genes are associated with response to escitalopram in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods:
Forty-four participants with ASD were enrolled in a 6 week, forced titration, open label examination of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram. Doses increased at weekly intervals starting at 2.5mg daily with a maximum possible dose of 20 mg daily achieved by the end of the study. If adverse events were experienced, participants subsequently received the previously tolerated dose for the duration of study. SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR) and HTR2A (rs7997012) genotype groups were assessed in relation to treatment outcomes and drug doses.
Results:
Insistence on sameness and irritability symptoms significantly improved over the course of the 6 week treatment period (p<0.0001) in this open-label trial. There were no significant differences observed in the rate of symptom improvement over time across genotype groups. Similarly, dosing trajectory was not significantly associated with genotype groups.
Conclusions:
Previous studies have identified SLC6A4 and HTR2A associations with SSRI response in patients with depression and 5-HTTLPR (SLC6A4) associations with escitalopram response in ASD. We did not observe evidence for similar relationships in this ASD study.
More Related Videos
08:30Author Spotlight: Exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms in Fruit Flies — Genetic Models and Behavioral Tests
Published on: September 6, 2024
08:49Rapid In Situ Hybridization using Oligonucleotide Probes on Paraformaldehyde-prefixed Brain of Rats with Serotonin Syndrome
Published on: September 23, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview