Tryptophan hydroxylase 1 gene haplotypes modify the effect of a hostile childhood environment on adulthood harm avoidance.

We conducted a series of tests to determine whether there is any association between tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) and temperament in adulthood. In addition to testing for main effects, we investigated whether TPH1 gene variation modifies the influence of childhood environment on temperament in adulthood. The subjects were 341 healthy adults whose childhood environment was assessed by their mothers in 1980 and who self-rated their temperaments twice, in 1997 and 2001. We found no association between the TPH1 gene and temperament; however, among women, the TPH1 gene modified a relationship between adverse childhood environment and harm avoidance in adulthood. This finding was confirmed in the same sample in another test setting 4 years later. The presence of the A/A haplotype of the TPH1 intron 7 A218A and A779C polymorphism predicted a high level of adulthood harm avoidance in the presence of a hostile childhood environment as defined in terms of emotional rejection, maternal neglect and harsh and inconsistent discipline. In addition, the findings suggest a gene-environment correlation for novelty seeking in men.