Abstract

Association of HTTLPR and 5-HT2A T102C polymorphisms with smoking characteristics and anthropometric profiles of Thai males

Author(s): K. Suriyaprom B. Phonrat U. Chuensumran A. Tungtrongchitr R. Tungtrongchitr

Nicotine increases serotonin release in the brain. Gene polymorphisms in the serotonergic system have been suggested to be associated with smoking behavior. We investigated a possible association between two polymorphisms in the serotonergic system - HTTLPR of a serotonin transporter gene and 5-HT2Aat position T102C - with biochemical and anthropometric parameters, and with cigarette smoking in an investigation of 200 smokers and 111 non-smokers. The two polymorphisms, HTTLPR and 5-HT2Aat position T102C, were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. They were not significantly associated with smoking status in these Thai males. Among the smokers, thiocyanate concentrations and quantity of cigarettes smoked (cigarette pack-years) were significantly higher for individuals with LL/LS genotypes than SS genotypes of 5-HTTLPR (all P 5-HT2Athan the TT genotype (all P HTTLPR and 5-HT2AT102C polymorphisms were not significantly associated with smoking status among Thai males; however, the HTTLPR polymorphism among smokers appears to be an indicator of increased smoking intensity consisting of cigarette pack-years and thiocyanate concentrations. The 5-HT2AT102C polymorphism plays a role in the anthropometric profiles, triceps skinfold thickness, arm circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, but not smoking status in Thai subjects.

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