Genetic Variants Associated with Suicide Risk in the Mexican Population: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Suicide is defined as the action of harming oneself with the intention of dying. It is estimated that worldwide, one person dies by suicide every 40 s, making it a major health problem. Studies in families have suggested that suicide has a genetic component, so the search for genetic variants associated with suicidal behavior could be useful as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide. In Mexico, some studies of gene variants related to neurotransmission and other important pathways have been carried out and potential association of variants located in the following genes has been suggested: SLC6A4, SAT-1, TPH-2, ANKK1, GSHR, SCARA50, RGS10, STK33, COMT, and FKBP5. This systematic review shows the genetic studies conducted on the Mexican population. This article contributes by compiling the existing information on genetic variants and genes associated with suicidal behavior, in the future could be used as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide.

Keywords:

• Genetic
• genomic
• Mexican
• suicidal behavior
• suicide
• variants

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine for their support.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

All authors contributed to writing this manuscript.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This systematic review was supported by the National Council of Science and Technology in Mexico (CONACYT 5012) for Antonio Ali Perez-Maya.

Notes on contributors

Juan Angel Garcia-Quiñones

Juan Angel Garcia-Quiñones, Celia Nohemi Sanchez-Dominguez, María Fernanda Serna-Rodríguez, Ana María Rivas-Estilla, and Antonio Ali Perez-Maya, Departamento de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico. Ivan Alberto Marino-Martinez, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico.