2004 - 2005 Publications > Genetics of drug abuse and addiction vulnerability

Recent Findings

Genetics of drug abuse and addiction vulnerability

• The Crowley Lab previously reported a linkage for drug dependence on chromosomal regions (3q24-3q25 and 9q34).  Stallings et al  now report that there is linkage on the same chromosomal regions (3q24-3q25 and 9q34) for conduct disorder.   A composite of conduct disorder and drug dependence gives the largest LOD score or 2.65 on 9q34.  Crowley suggests that gene in this area mediate vulnerability to drug dependence and conduct disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Sep;62(9):1042-51
• Failure to read by the 3rd grade is a large risk factor for drug abuse.  3% of the U.S. population is illiterate.  Meng et al  identified DCDC2 (doublecortin domain containing 2) on human  chromosome 6 as the candidate gene for dyslexia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005, 102(47):17053-8.
• Correcting for gene stratification ADH4 (alcohol dehydrogenase 4) is associated with alcohol and drug dependence in European American but not in African American.  Luo et al Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Oct 12; and Luo et al. Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2005 Nov;15(11):755-68.
• Luo et ale confirmed the results of Bierut and colleagues that CHRM2 gene predisposes to alcohol dependence, drug dependence and affective disorders. Hum Mol Genet. 2005 Aug 15;14(16):2421-34.
• Fine mapping of Chromosome 7 for drug addiction by Ishiguruo et al  has identified NrCAM haplotypes a being associated with substance abuse vulnerability.  Expression of NrCAM is regulated by drugs of abuse; it shows allele specific gene expression in post-mortem tissue; and the knockout of NrCAM  reduces conditioned place preference to opiates and psychostimulants.  Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Aug 10.
• Using Pooled Genome Wide Association Scanning Liu et al identified 38 loci containing SNPs that display robust allele frequency differences between abusers and controls in both European- and African-American samples. These loci identify an alcohol/acetaldehyde dehydrogenase gene cluster and genes implicated in cellular signaling, gene regulation, development, "cell adhesion," and Mendelian disorders. The results converge with previous linkage and association results for addictions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Aug 16;102(33):11864-9.
• Lin et al have identified a coding region polymorphism in the 5HT2B receptor gene that is associated with vulnerability to illicit drug abuse. Pharmacogenetics. 2004 Dec;14(12):805-11
• Rates of specific drug disorders (coc, mj, op, sed, stim, tob) elevated among relatives of alcohol-dependent probands, suggesting shared familial vulnerability.  Nurnberger et al Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2004, 61: 1246-56

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