Association Study of Serotonin 3 Receptor Subunit Gene Variants in Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain

Background: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic severe neuropsychiatric disorder, where pharmacological treatment has been hindered by adverse effects, including antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) and related complications. Genetic studies have been exploring the appetite regulation and energy homeostasis pathways in AIWG with some promising leads. The serotonin system has been shown to participate in these pathways. Methods: In the current study, we examined single nucleotide polymorphisms across the serotonin receptor genes HTR3A and HTR3B. Prospective weight change was assessed for a total of 149 SCZ patients of European ancestry. Results: We did not find the tested HTR3A or HTR3B gene markers to be associated with AIWG in our sample. Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that these receptors may not play a major role in predicting AIWG. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel