Lack of association between dopamine transporter gene polymorphisms and delusional disorder

Abstract

Potential contributions of dopamine transporter (DAT) gene variants to delusional disorder were investigated using association analysis. DAT gene VNTR polymorphisms were assessed in 61 delusional patients and 54 normal controls. No differences were found in either genotypic or allelic distributions. These findings do not support relevant contributions of DAT gene variants to the pathogenesis of delusional disorder.

Delusional Infestation

“…This association was confirmed in an independent Mexican sample (5). In contrast, an association with polymorphisms in the gene encoding the presynaptic dopamine transporter was absent in delusional disorder (260).…”

Polymorphisms in the 3′-untranslated region of human and monkey dopamine transporter genes affect reporter gene expression

“…With the exception of a small (Ͻ4%) but significant association between 10-repeat length alleles in the 3Ј-UTR and ADHD, [29][30][31][32][33] analysis of DAT alleles based on the number of repeat sequences (length) of the VNTR has yielded negative or inconsistent data. 41,45,[48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] In view of mounting evidence that the 3Ј-UTR of genes may contribute to gene expression, 57,58 we and others extended the search for variability in primate DAT genes beyond length, to SNPs in the 3Ј-UTR. [22][23][24]44,45 We identified a 3Ј-UTR of a human 10-repeat DAT allele containing a novel SNP that altered a DraI restriction site (DraI−).…”

Single nucleotide polymorphisms distinguish multiple dopamine transporter alleles in primates: implications for association with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other neuropsychiatric disorders

“…22 These results are conspicuously different from negative or inconsistent evidence linking VNTR alleles of the DAT gene with other neuropsychiatric disorders. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]14,15,[34][35][36] Dysfunctional regulation of DAT protein expression by the 3Ј-UTR of the DAT gene may be one process of many which may account for putative elevated levels of DAT in ADHD. Evidence that polymorphic variants of the DAT may differentially affect DAT protein levels was recently reported.…”

“…4,5 This VNTR consists of 3-Ͼ11 copies of a 40-base repeat unit. 4,6 Numerous reports have attempted to associate the presence or absence of particular DAT alleles, as defined by the size (number of repeats) of the VNTR, with the occurrence of dopaminerelated disorders, including Parkinson's disease, [7][8][9] schizophrenia, 10,11 delusional disorder, 12 smoking cessation, 13 polysubstance abuse 14 and alcoholism. 15,16 The most consistent finding among this literature has been an association of a 10-copy allele with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).…”