Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Erdal, Mehmet Emin | Eker, Ebru Derici | Kanık, Emine Arzu

OBJECTIVES: Serotonin is a key mediator of intestinal peristalsis, and after it is secreted, it is effectively cleansed from the neuronal gap by means of a high affinity substance called serotonin transporter (SERT), which depends on the Na
and Cl ions localized in the presynaptic neuronal membranes. The aim of this study was to investigate SERT polymorphism in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: SERT gene polymorphism was assessed by polymerase chain reaction on DNA chains obtained from leukocytes in serum samples from 54 patients diagnosed with IBS and 91 healthy subjects. The polymorphism of two regions (variable number tandem repeats and the SERT gene–linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) of SERT was assessed. RESULTS: SERT polymorphisms were found to be similar in...