The Association Between Serotonin Transporter Gene Promotor Polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and Elemental Mercury Exposure on Mood and Behavior in Humans

Abstract

A functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) is reported to affect mood and behavior in humans. In this study, the effects of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on neurobehavioral and mood domains that are known to be affected by elemental mercury (Hg°) exposure in human subjects were examined. The Behavioral Evaluation for Epidemiologic Studies (BEES) test battery was administered concurrently with urine and buccal-cell collections for 164 male dentists (DD) and 101 female dental assistants (DA) with occupational exposure to Hg° for an average of 19 and 10 yr, respectively. Geometric mean urinary mercury (Hg) levels in DD and DA were 2.52 (2.22) μg/L and 1.98 (1.98) μg/L, respectively. Corresponding indices of chronic occupational Hg° exposure, weighted for historical exposure, were 1212 (1877) and 316 (429). 5-HTTLPR status was 40% and 20% wild type, 40% and 56% single allelic substitution, and 20% and 24% double allelic substitution for the two genders. DD and DA were evaluated separately. Regression analyses controlled for age, premorbid intelligence, frequency of alcohol per week, and education. 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was associated with 5 behavioral measures in DD and with 12 behavioral measures in DA. Mood scores were more consistently associated with the variant in both groups. The strongest evidence for an additive effect for urinary Hg and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in both groups was for tests of Finger Tap_Alternate and Hand Steadiness_Factor1. Other significant additive effects that were less consistent across groups were also observed. These results add to the growing evidence of genetic determinants of mood and behavior that potentially increase susceptibility to Hg toxicity in humans.

This work was supported in part by grant R01DE11712 from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), by the University of Washington Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health grant P30ES07033, and by the University of Washington Superfund Program Project grant P42ES04696 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Additional support was provided by the Wallace Research Foundation.