Serotonin transporter gene and treatment of alcoholism

Abstract

The gene responsible for encoding SERT has a functional polymorphism at the 5′-regulatory promoter region, which results in two forms, long (L) and short (S). The LL-genotype is hypothesized to play a key role in the early onset of alcohol use. The present invention discloses the differences in treatment and diagnosis based on the L or short genotypes as well as on a single nucleotide polymorphism of the SERT gene, the 3′ UTR SNP rs1042173. The present invention demonstrates the efficacy of using the drug ondansetron and similar drugs for treatment based on variations in the polymorphisms of the SERT gene as well as methods for diagnosing susceptibility to abuse of alcohol and other addiction-related diseases and disorders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of predicting a predisposition to developing an addictive disease or disorder in a test subject, said method comprising:
 obtaining a biological sample from the test subject;   measuring the level of expression of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 in the sample from the test subject and comparing the level of expression with the level of expression of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 in a sample obtained from a control subject or with a standard sample comprising a known level of expression of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4;   wherein a higher or lower level of expression of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 in the sample obtained from the test subject compared with the level of expression in the sample obtained from the control subject or the standard sample is an indication of a predisposition to developing an addictive disease or disorder;   thereby predicting a predisposition to developing an addictive disease or disorder in a subject.