Association between 5-HTR1A gene C-1019G polymorphism and antidepressant response in patients with major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a substantial global health concern, and its treatment is complicated by the variability in individual response to antidepressants.

Aim: To consolidate research and clarify the impact of genetic variation on MDD treatment outcomes.

Methods: Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic search across PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted without date restrictions, utilizing key terms related to MDD, serotonin 1A receptor polymorphism (5-HTR1A), C-1019G polymorphism, and antidepressant response. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were thoroughly screened, and quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Statistical analyses, including χ ² and I² values, were used to evaluate heterogeneity and fixed-effect or random-effect models were applied accordingly.

Results: The initial search yielded 1216 articles, with 11 studies meeting criteria for inclusion. Analysis of various genetic models showed no significant association between the 5-HTR1A C-1019G polymorphism and antidepressant efficacy. The heterogeneity was low to moderate, and no publication bias was detected through funnel plot symmetry and Egger's and Begg's tests.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis does not support a significant association between the 5-HTR1A C-1019G polymorphism and the efficacy of antidepressant treatment in MDD. The findings call for further research with larger cohorts to substantiate these results and enhance the understanding of antidepressant pharmacogenetics.