Research article summary (published 29 Oct 2006):

Family-based and case-control study of DRD2, DAT, 5HTT, COMT genes polymorphisms in alcohol dependence.

Full Abstract

The paper focuses on such candidate gene polymorphisms that alter alcoholism-related intermediate phenotypes including:
dopaminergic system polymorphic variants (DRD2 -141C Ins/Del in promoter region, exon 8 and DRD2 TaqI A and DAT 40bp VNTR genes polymorphisms) that cause predisposition to severe alcoholism (haplotype Ins/G/A2); COMT Val158Met gene polymorphism related to differences in executive cognitive function and 5-HTT gene promoter polymorphism, which alters stress response and affects anxiety and dysphoria. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was used in the study. One hundred Polish families with alcohol dependence were recruited. The control subjects for the case-control study were 196 ethnically and gender matched healthy individuals. It was found that DRD2 TaqIA and DAT gene polymorphisms contained statistically significant differences in allele transmission. In the homogenous subgroups of patients with early onset and with withdrawal complications a statistically significant preferential A2 allele transmission was found in DRD2 TaqIA gene polymorphism. The alleles and genotypes distribution of the investigated polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the alcoholics and the controls in the case-control study. The results confirmed the fact that the candidate genes (DRD2 and DAT) are partially responsible for the development of alcohol dependence. The results are also in agreement with the hypothesis that there are various subtypes of alcohol dependence, which differ depending on their genetic background. Meanwhile, the currently available pharmacological therapies for alcoholism treatment are effective in some alcoholics but not for all of them. Some progress has been made in elucidating pharmacogenomic responses to drugs, particularly in the context of Clonninger and Lesch typology classification system for alcoholics.

Learn Faster Today      Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Samochowiec, Jerzy (J); Kucharska-Mazur, Jolanta (J); Grzywacz, Anna (A); Jablonski, Marcin (M); Rommelspacher, Hans (H); Samochowiec, Agnieszka (A); Sznabowicz, Mariusz (M); Horodnicki, Jan (J); Sagan, Leszek (L); Pelka-Wysiecka, Justyna (J);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland. samoj(-atsign-)sci.pam.szczecin.pl <samoj(-atsign-)sci.pam.szczecin.pl>

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 410 (issue 1) : pp 1-5

Dates: Created 2006/11/07; Completed 2007/01/23;

PMID: 17079080, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Alcoholism - genetics Alleles Case-Control Studies Catechol O-Methyltransferase - genetics Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics Family Health Female Gene Frequency Genetic Predisposition to Disease

Humans Linkage Disequilibrium Male Methionine - genetics Middle Aged Minisatellite Repeats - genetics Polymorphism, Genetic Receptors, Dopamine D2 - genetics Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics Valine - genetics

Associated Chemicals: Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (0) ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 (0) ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (0) ; Methionine (63-68-3) ; Valine (7004-03-7) ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.6)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Clinical and genetic characteristics of Korean male alcoholics with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. 3 May 2006
• Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene Val108/158Met polymorphism, and susceptibility to schizophrenia: association is more significant in women. 4 Dec 2004
• Homicidal behavior in schizophrenia associated with a genetic polymorphism determining low catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity. 13 Dec 1999
• Negative association between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene Val158Met polymorphism and persistent tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia. 5 Dec 2004
• Gene-gene interaction between MAOA and COMT in suicidal behavior. 20 Apr 2005
• Family-based and case-control association studies of catechol-O-methyltransferase in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder suggest genetic sexual dimorphism. 30 Mar 2003
• Association study of a functional catechol-O-methyltransferase genetic polymorphism with age of onset, cognitive function, symptomatology and prognosis in chronic schizophrenia. 30 Dec 2003
• Association study of a novel functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in bipolar disorder and suicidal behaviour. 27 Sep 2005
• Association of the dopamine transporter gene with alcoholism. 2 Jul 2005
• Risk factors for extrapyramidal symptoms during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including cytochrome P-450 enzyme, and serotonin and dopamine transporter and receptor polymorphisms. 30 Mar 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.