Animal research supports a central role for corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in actions of ethanol on brain function.
An examination of alcohol consumption in adolescents reported a significant genotype × environment (G × E) interaction involving rs1876831, a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) polymorphism, and negative events. and at least four other genes are located at 17q21.31 in an extremely large block of high linkage disequilibrium resulting from a local chromosomal inversion; the minor allele of rs1876831 is contained within the H2 haplotype.
Here, we examine whether G × E interactions involving this haplotype and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are associated with risk for alcohol consumption and dependence in Australian participants (CRHR1n = 1128 respondents from 476 families) of the Nicotine Addiction Genetics project.
Telephone interviews provided data on DSM-IV alcohol dependence diagnosis and CSA and enabled calculation of lifetime alcohol consumption factor score (ACFS) from four indices of alcohol consumption. Individuals reporting a history of CSA had significantly higher ACFS and increased risk for alcohol dependence.
A significant G × E interaction was found for ACFS involving the H2 haplotype and CSA (P <>
Our results also suggest that severe early trauma may prove to be an important clinical covariate in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
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