GABA-A2 receptor subunit gene (GABRA2) polymorphisms and risk for alcohol dependence.Journal of Psychiatric Research
Volume 42, Issue 3, February 2008, Pages 184-191
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptors are believed to mediate some of the physiological and behavioral actions of ethanol. Recent studies have suggested that genetic variants of the GABA-A receptor alpha2 subunit gene (GABRA2) are associated with alcohol dependence.
The aim of this study is to confirm and extend the role of GABRA2 haplotypes in the liability to alcohol dependence.
One genetic variant was detected to significantly differ between alcohol-dependent subjects and controls. Two common 8 SNP haplotypes and their complementary alleles were identified containing this SNP and were present in 89.9% of controls and 93.4% of the alcohol-dependent individuals.
One of the haplotypes (T-C-A-C-A-T-T-C) was significantly associated with alcohol dependence and characteristics of alcohol withdrawal and severity of alcohol dependence (delirium tremens, withdrawal seizures).
These findings support and extend the three previous studies implicating a GABA-A receptor subunit as contributing to the genetic risk for alcohol dependence. Possible implications of these findings are discussed.
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