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The study focuses on a gene in the context of the availability of serotonin, a chemical which may be low on mood and sleep. The researchers found that among people with a variation of this gene were more often women than men have changed the processes related to serotonin.The results of genetic analysis and depression Critique of 192 people, published online, Nov 7 of the American Journal of Medical Genetics.

While the result is exciting, with caution, researchers have not yet found “depression gene”, as the genes can not lead to behaviors.

“Genoa in relation to a person that exposure to different life experiences and environments, play a role in depression, although all the specific mechanisms, what happens is not well understood,” said the author of this study, Robert Philibert, MD, Ph. . D., associate professor of psychiatry at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. “This study has given us some interesting information about a specific mechanism.

The study participants - 96 men and 96 women - are underway for participants from more than 20 years in the adoption of Iowa Studies, launched by Remi Cadoret, MD, a professor of user interface for psychiatry, died in 2005.

The user interface, the team is studying the function of SLC6A4, a transporter of serotonin-gene. They found that methylation of the gene - a process that disables the functions of a gene - were more common among women than men by the alternative option. This means that fewer women in some of the genes has led to a decrease mRNA, the genetic material, a gene that helps a protein.

Tracy Gunter, MD, assistant professor of user interface for psychiatry and a study co-author, said: “It is important to note that genes themselves, not the code of conduct. Code for proteins and nature and how a gene for a protein on the messenger RNA, or mRNA. methylation, but prevents the production of mRNA.

Philibert and his colleagues are studying the data to see if they find out what relates to methylation changed.

The team also assessed the participants to depression, but did not directly correlated with cases of depression, with which Genvariante.

“Genvariante we considered doing so for some people vulnerable to develop depression if they live more stress or abuse - as if two people have a genetic risk of osteoporosis, one is underway, rather that those who swam in effect to develop osteoporosis, “said Philibert.

Currently, depression is often treated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which will contribute to the serotonin that are processes that contribute to the end of mood and stress management.

Gunter said the UI study, in conjunction with other studies, creates a clearer picture on serotonin and depression, at least in some human beings.

“For the last 10 years or so, several other groups have proposed results, better than women than men SSRIs. In late summer 2006, a study indicates that women in their pre-menopause, it can often better than men to SSRIs, “she said.

“So if we consider our results for such a study, from a set of images, which probably explains the truth of the thing, at least a percentage of women with depression. Down the road If we find people, for what is a problem, we can, specific measures for them. In other words, we can guess the first time properly, “Gunter said.

The study was funded in part by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The study of the user interface with other researchers and scientists at the Institute Systems Biology in Seattle.