No Association Between SLC6A4 Gene Polymorphisms With Treatment Remission to Venlafaxine in Han Chinese Depressive Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder and considered to be one of the most common mental diseases worldwide. The antidepressant venlafaxine, as a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, is applied to MDD relief. Solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) has been reported to promote the reuptake of serotonin and to be closely correlated to depression. The present study examined whether rs6354 and rs1487971 in SLC6A4 are associated with remission after venlafaxine treatment in MDD patients. METHODS: This study consisted of 195 Han Chinese patients with MDD, who accepted a 6-week treatment with venlafaxine. Two SLC6A4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from database of SNP and genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometer in MassARRAY Analyzer 4 platforms. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale was used to access the severity of major depression. Allele and genotype frequencies between patients in remission and nonremission were calculated with online software SHEsis. RESULTS: No significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies were observed in rs6354 and rs1487971. There were no significant associations between 2 SNPs and venlafaxine treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS: It suggested that rs6354 or rs1487971 within SLC6A4 appears not to be involved in the venlafaxine treatment outcome in Han Chinese patients with MDD.