Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30180828›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2018

Genotype-dependent associations between serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) DNA methylation and late-life depression.

Dilys Lam, Marie-Laure Ancelin, Karen Ritchie, Rosanne Freak-Poli, Richard Saffery, Joanne Ryan

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
46citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
4.0field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

46 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 101 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Proprietary Medicines ContainingFrontiers in pharmacology · 2022
    Pooled it
  5. The Journal of international medical research · 2020
    Pooled it
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. A Transcriptomic Signature of Depressive Symptoms in Late Life.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2025
    Article
  12. Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2025
    Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Dilys LamCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Marie-Laure AncelinINSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France.
Karen RitchieINSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France.
Rosanne Freak-PoliDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3004, Australia.
Richard SafferyCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Joanne RyanCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. joanne.ryan@monash.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-7039-6325
Royal Children's Hospital · AUInserm · FRThe Alfred Hospital · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDisrupted serotonergic signaling is often a feature of depression and the role of the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), responsible for serotonin re-uptake, has received much attention in this regard. Most studies have focused on the polymorphic 5-HTTLPR upstream repeat, or DNA methylation at the promoter CpG island. Few studies have explored the influence of genetic variation across the gene on DNA methylation, and their combined association with depression risk. The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic variation in the SLC6A4 gene influences promoter DNA methylation, and whether these are associated with depression status.

methodThe ESPRIT study involves a community-based population of older individuals (> 65 years of age). Major depressive disorder (MDD) was diagnosed according to DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria, and severe depressive symptoms assessed by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Sequenom MassARRAY was used to measure SLC6A4 methylation status (n = 302).

resultsNominally significant associations were observed between SLC6A4 genetic variants (5-HTTLPR, rs140700, rs4251417, rs6354, rs25528, rs25531) and DNA methylation at several CpG sites. In multivariate regression, DNA methylation was associated with depression status, but only in the presence of specific genotypes. In individuals homozygous for the short 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTLPR/r25531 alleles, lower methylation at two CpGs was associated with depression (β = - 0.44 to β = - 0.31; p = 0.001 to p = 0.038).

conclusionWe present evidence for genotype-dependent associations between SLC6A4 methylation and depression. Genetic variants may also play a role in influencing promoter methylation levels and its association with depression.

Indexed as

GenotypeAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsDNA MethylationFemaleGenetic Association StudiesHumansMajor Depressive DisorderMalePromoter Regions, GeneticRandom AllocationSelf ReportSerotonin Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsSerotonin Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsSLC6A4 protein, humanDepressionDNA methylationEpigeneticsGenetic variationSerotonin transporter

Identifiers

PMID30180828
PMCPMC6122720
OpenAlexW2891308783

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.