TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE GENES POLYMORPHISMS AND THEIR PREDICTIVE AND DIAGNOSTIC VALUE (Diagnostyczne i predykcyjne znaczenie polimorfizmow genów hydroksylazy tryptofanu)

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the serotonin biosynthesis pathway. Gene encoding it's isoform - TPH2 is expressed mainly in the brain, and is a major candidate gene in a number of serotonin related psychiatric disorders. The paper analyses a number of genetic association studies that have already indicated the correlations between several TPH2 polymorphisms and affective disorders, suicidal behavior, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder and genetically determined differences in effectiveness of the therapy. It emphasises the role of the dysregulation of brain serotonergic neurotransmission as a possible etiologic factor in the development of many psychiatric disorders. The paper pays attention to the fact that characterization of polymorphisms in TPH2 may ultimately provide important insights into the pathogenesis of individually and socially important psychiatric disorders.