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Differences in platelet serotonin transporter sites between African-American tobacco smokers and non-smokers

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Abstract

Rationale

The serotonin transporter (5HTT) regulates the magnitude and duration of serotonergic neurotransmission. Although nicotine and other constituents of tobacco smoke may influence serotonin turnover among animals, few studies have examined whether smoking is associated with alteration in 5HTT in humans.

Objective

We investigated whether tobacco smokers and non-smokers differed in platelet tritiated paroxetine binding, a measure of 5HTT sites, and whether severity of nicotine dependence (ND) was related to 5HTT measures.

Methods

Tritiated paroxetine binding sites on platelets were assayed in 26 African-American smokers and 30 non-smokers. Severity of smoking was assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Relationships between FTND scores and maximum number of transporter sites (Bmax) and affinity constant (Kd) of paroxetine binding were determined.

Results

Bmax values showed a significant negative correlation with FTND scores (rho=−0.28, P<0.01). Notably, smokers with higher ND had significantly lower Bmax compared to those with lower ND and non-smokers; the latter two groups did not differ in Bmax (F=3.92, P<0.05). Smokers scored higher on impulsivity than non-smokers, however, behavioral variables did not influence the relationship of smoking with Bmax. Age, gender and Kd values were not associated with smoking or Bmax.

Conclusions

Smoking, in particular higher nicotine dependence, appears to be correlated with decreased density of platelet 5HTT sites in African-Americans. The nature of the relationship and whether similar changes occur in the brain merit further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grant KO8DA00340-02 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and performed under the auspices of the Commonwealth Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Coordinating Bureau for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs. We appreciate the contributions of Cheryl Marshall, Heather Murray and Allan Lundy in data collection and analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

    Ashwin A. Patkar, Raman Gopalakrishnan, Stephen P. Weinstein & Michael J. Vergare

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

    Wade H. Berrettini

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonology and Critical Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

    Frank T. Leone

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  1. Ashwin A. Patkar
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  2. Raman Gopalakrishnan
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  3. Wade H. Berrettini
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  4. Stephen P. Weinstein
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  5. Michael J. Vergare
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  6. Frank T. Leone
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Correspondence to Ashwin A. Patkar.

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Patkar, A.A., Gopalakrishnan, R., Berrettini, W.H. et al. Differences in platelet serotonin transporter sites between African-American tobacco smokers and non-smokers. Psychopharmacology 166, 221–227 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-002-1353-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-002-1353-2

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