Background. VNTR-polymorphism at 5 HTTLPR regulatory region of human serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4, which is associated with some psychiatric diseases and personality traits, is presented by two alleles, S and L, affecting the gene transcription level. A correlation between the S allele frequency in populations of European and Asian origin and a Hofstede's individualism-collectivism index was revealed and a hypothesis of culture-gene coevolution was suggested (Chiao, Blizinsky, 2010). Methods. As another reason for the correlation we examined underlying population genetic substructure, which may affect genetic association level. Results. We have experimentally established the 5 HTTLPR genotypes for 2144 individuals to calculate S and L allele frequencies in 21 populations of Eurasia and Africa. In contrast to Eurasia populations, we have found low S allele frequencies in all four African populations studied, although the collectivism index in the populations was high. The total set of Eurasian and African populations analysis does not confirm the correlation (R= 0.263, p=0.146). We have applied principal component (PC) analysis to check a correlation between S allele frequency distribution and a frequency distribution for alleles which are supposed to be neutral. PC analysis for 68 alleles of five CODIS STR loci revealed correlation between PC2 and S allele frequency (R= 0.820, p<0.0001). The correlation means that S allele frequency distribution corresponds to general genetic variability distribution in the human populations studied. The correlation between the Hofestede's index and frequency of four out of 68 STR alleles is even higher than the correlation with S allele frequency in the same populations. Conclusion. Our findings do not support the hypothesis on culture-gene coevolution of “individualism-collectivism” and the S allele frequency of serotonin transporter gene.

Для 21 популяции Евразии и Африки определены частоты аллеля S локуса 5-HTTLPR гена транспортера серотонина ассоциированного с рядом психологических особенностей человека. В тех же популяциях рассчитаны главные компоненты генетической изменчивости (PC1 и РС2) на основе опубликованных частот 68 предположительно нейтральных аллелей 5 STR-локусов системы CODIS. Частота аллеля S значимо коррелирует c PC2 (R = 0,820, p < 0,0001), то есть соответствует структуре общей генетической изменчивости этих популяций. Для 4 из 68 исследованных аллелей уровень корреляции частоты STR аллеля с индексом индивидуализма-коллективизма по Хофстеду даже выше, чем для аллеля S. Наши данные не подтверждают гипотезу (Chiao, Blizinsky, 2010) о ген-культурной коэволюции частоты аллеля S и уровня коллективизма.