Nice guys: Homozygocity for the TPH2 -703G/T (rs4570625) minor allele promotes low aggressiveness and low anxiety
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Background Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of serotonin. We examined whether the TPH2 polymorphism -703G/T (rs4570625) is associated with aggressiveness and impulsivity, and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, in a population-representative sample.Methods We used self and proxy reports on aggressive behaviour in the younger birth cohort of the longitudinal Estonian Children Personality, Behaviour and Health Study collected at age 25, and earlier collected impulsivity and related data of both ECPBHS cohorts.Results The TT homozygous males reported less aggressive behaviour in the Life History of Aggression interview at age 25. They also had significantly lower scores in Illinois Bully Scale peer reports, and less ADHD symptoms rated by teachers both at ages 9 and 15. The TT homozygotes of both sexes had the lowest Maladaptive Impulsivity at ages 18 and 25, and the highest Adaptive Impulsivity at age 25. The TT homozygotes also had low depressiveness and trait anxiety by age 25, and the odds ratio for the prevalence of anxiety disorders was 9.38 for the G-allele carriers.Limitations The main limitation of the study is the naturally occurring low number of subjects with the TT genotype.Conclusions Subjects with the TPH2 rs4570625 TT genotype, especially males, exhibit less aggression and a favourable impulsivity profile, and develop anxiety disorders by young adulthood less often.
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There were no significant genotype differences in teacher-rated aggressive behavior at any age.
“NS genotype differences in teacher-rated aggressive behavior at any age”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Laas [91]
Neither the SLC6A4 VNTR nor the TPH2 rs4570625 polymorphism demonstrated significant associations with childhood aggression.
“Neither the SLC6A4 VNTR [86] nor the TPH2 rs4570625 polymorphism [91] demonstrated significant associations with childhood aggression.”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [91]
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Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review
Koyama, E., Kant, T., Takata, A., Kennedy, J. L., & Zai, C. C. (2024) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-024-02870-7 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
- Authors
- Laas, K., Kiive, E., Mäestu, J., Vaht, M., Veidebaum, T., & Harro, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Tartu (EE)
- National Institute for Health Development (EE)
- Corresponding author
- Harro, Jaanus
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-06
- Volume
- 215
- Pages
- 230-236
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2595725101
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 2.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DSpace repository (University of Tartu) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Estonian Ministry of Education and Science Projects (IUT20-40, IUT42-2)
- EC FP7 Project Aggressotype (602805)
- EC Horizon 2020 (H2020-PHC-2015-667302)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- tryptophan hydroxylase 2, serotonin synthesis, aggression, impulsivity, anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD symptoms, mental illness, genotype-phenotype correlation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aggression, Alcoholism, Alleles, Anxiety, Mental Disorders, Child, Estonia, Homozygote, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Polymorphism, Genetic, Tryptophan Hydroxylase, Cohort Studies, Prevalence, Young Adult
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