title: Allelic and somatic variations in the endogenous opioid system of humans.
abstract: People with a genetic predisposition for substance abuse have defects in genes for the opioid peptides and receptors. A high number of polymorphisms have been detected in the mu-opioid receptor, some of which result in pharmacological alterations. The opioid peptide proopiomelanocortin proved extraordinarily rich in mutations that often lead to severe phenotypical consequences. Prodynorphin displays a polymorphic regulation of transcription. Variants of the mu- and the delta-opioid receptor showed positive associations with opiate and/or alcohol addiction in some studies. However, these associations were weak, indicating a small contribution of the opioid system to these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Höllt
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C029992:proenkephalin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; C033660:preproenkephalin