Drug Addiction and Stress‐Response Genetic Variability: Association Study in African Americans. (26th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Levran, Orna; Randesi, Matthew; Li, Yi; Rotrosen, John; Ott, Jurg; Adelson, Miriam; Jeanne Kreek, Mary
• Is Part Of: Annals of human genetics. Volume 78:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 290
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2014-04-26
• Subjects: Human genetics -- Periodicals; 599.935
• DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4800

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Stress is a significant risk factor in the development of drug addictions and in addiction relapse susceptibility. This hypothesis‐driven study was designed to determine if specific SNPs in genes related to stress response are associated with heroin and/or cocaine addiction in African Americans. The analysis included 27 genes (124 SNPs) and was performed independently for each addiction. The sample consisted of former heroin addicts in methadone maintenance treatment (n = 314), cocaine addicts (n = 281), and controls (n = 208). Fourteen SNPs showed nominally significant association with heroin addiction (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05), including the African‐specific, missense SNP rs5376 (Asn334Ser) in the galanin receptor type 1 gene (<italic>GALR1</italic>) and the functional <italic>FKBP5</italic> intronic SNP rs1360780. Thirteen SNPs showed association with cocaine addiction, including the synonymous SNPs rs237902, in the oxytocin receptor gene (<italic>OXTR</italic>), and rs5374 in <italic>GALR1</italic>. No signal remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Four additional SNPs (<italic>GALR1</italic> rs2717162, <italic>AVP</italic> rs2282018, <italic>CRHBP</italic> rs1875999, and <italic>NR3C2</italic> rs1040288) were associated with both addictions and may indicate common liability. The study provides preliminary evidence for novel association of variants in several stress‐related genes with heroin and/or cocaine addictions and may enhance the understanding of the interaction between stress and addictions.</p> </abstract>