The Vulnerability to Methamphetamine Dependence and Genetics: A Case-Control Study Focusing on Genetic Polymorphisms at Chromosomal Region 5q31.3.

OBJECTIVES

Methamphetamine (METH) is a central nervous psychostimulant and one of the most frequently used illicit drugs. Numerous genetic loci that influence complex traits, including alcohol abuse, have been discovered; however, genetic analyses for METH dependence remain limited. An increased histone deacetylase 3 () expression has been detected in Fos-positive neurons in the dorsomedial striatum following withdrawal after METH self-administration. Herein, we aimed to systematically investigate the contribution of to the vulnerability to METH dependence in a Han Chinese population.

METHODS

In total, we recruited 1,221 patients with METH dependence and 2,328 age- and gender-matched controls. For genotyping, we selected 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within ± 3 kb regions of . The associations between genotyped genetic polymorphisms and the vulnerability to METH dependence were examined by single marker- and haplotype-based methods using PLINK. The effects of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) on targeted gene expressions were investigated using the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database.

RESULTS

The SNP rs14251 was identified as a significant association signal (χ = 9.84, = 0.0017). An increased risk of METH dependence was associated with the A allele (minor allele) of rs14251 [odds ratio (95% CI) = 1.25 (1.09-1.43)]. The results of analyses suggested that SNP rs14251 could be a potential eQTL signal for , , and , but not for , in various human tissues.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that genetic polymorphism rs14251 located at 5q31.3 was significantly associated with the vulnerability to METH dependence in Han Chinese population.