ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 540 SERT as a Target for Treatment ............................................................................................................. 540 Impact of Genetic Variabilities in SERT in Disease and Treatment Response ...................................... 542 Impact of Epigenetic Variabilities in SERT in Disease and Treatment Response ................................. 544 Pharmacoepigenomics Target for SSRIs ................................................................................................ 544 Dietary Modulation of SSRIs ................................................................................................................. 544 In Vivo Imaging of SERT ....................................................................................................................... 545 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 545 References .............................................................................................................................................. 545
DNMT: DNA methyltransferase GAD: generalized anxiety disorder MDD: major depressive disorder NaSSA: noradrenergic and specic serotonergic antidepressant NAT: noradrenaline transporters OCD: obsessive compulsive disorder PET: positron emission tomography PMAT: plasma membrane monoamine transporter PMDD: premenstrual dysphoric disorder PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder SAMe: S-adenosyl methionine SARI: serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor SLC6A4: solute carrier family 6 member 4 SMS: serotonin modulator and stimulator SNP: single-nucleotide polymorphism SNRI: serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor SPECT: single-photon emission computed tomography SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor VNTR: variable number tandem repeat
Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter involved in regulating a wide range of psychological and biological tasks such as mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and sexual function. It is synthesized from the amino acid L-tryptophan by enzymes L-tryptophan hydroxylase and amino acid decarboxylase. Serotonin is mainly stored in the enterochromafn cells in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, in serotonergic neurons of the central nervous system, and in platelets. Serotonin secreted in the brain activates various serotonin (5HT) receptors and subsequently it is reuptaken by presynaptic neurons via serotonin transporters (Figure 35.1).
