Association of the CHRNA4 Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Gene with Frequency of Binge Drinking in Young Adults. (15th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coon, Hilary; Piasecki, Thomas M.; Cook, Edwin H.; Dunn, Diane; Mermelstein, Robin J.; Weiss, Robert B.; Cannon, Dale S.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 38:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 930
• Page End: 937
• Publication Date: 2014-01-15
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.12319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="acer12319-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="acer12319-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Binge drinking is responsible for over half of all alcohol‐related deaths and results in significant health and economic costs to individuals and society. Knowledge of genetic aspects of this behavior, particularly as it emerges in young adulthood, could lead to improved treatment and prevention programs.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12319-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We have focused on the association of variation in neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit genes (<italic>CHRN</italic>s) in a cohort of 702 Hispanic and non‐Hispanic White young adults who are part of the Social and Emotional Contexts of Adolescent Smoking Patterns (SECASP) study. Fifty‐five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the variation in 5 CHRNs (<italic>CHRNA4</italic>, <italic> CHRNB2</italic>, <italic> CHRNA2, CHRNB3A6, </italic> and <italic>CHRNA5A3B4</italic>) were studied.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12319-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Frequency of binge drinking and other correlated alcohol consumption measures were significantly associated with SNPs in <italic>CHRNA4</italic> (<italic>p</italic>‐values ranged from 0.0003 to 0.02), but not with SNPs in other <italic>CHRN</italic>s. This association was independent of smoking status in our cohort.</p> </sec> <sec id="acer12319-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Variants in <italic>CHRNA4</italic> may contribute to risk of binge drinking in young adults in this cohort. Results will need to be confirmed in independent samples.</p> </sec> </abstract>