No association between functional catechol O-methyl transferase 1947A>G polymorphism and smoking initiation, persistent smoking or smoking cessation.
Nicotine stimulates dopamine release and activates dopaminergic reward neurones in central pathways giving rise to dependence. Catechol O-methyl transferase (COMT) inactivates extraneuronally released dopamine and is present in dopaminergic brain regions. A functional polymorphism (COMT 1947A>G) resulting in increased enzyme activity has been associated with alcoholism and polysubstance abuse. We examined the relationship between the COMT 1947A>G polymorphism and smoking initiation, smoking persistence and smoking cessation. We genotyped 266 current smokers, 270 ex-smokers and 265 lifetime non-smokers (never smokers), matched for age and gender, for the COMT 1947A>G polymorphism. Smoking status was ascertained by self-report. There was no difference in genotype frequencies between never smokers and ever smokers (current + ex-smokers); between non-smokers (never + ex-smokers) and current smokers; or between current smokers and ex-smokers. These data suggest that the COMT 1947A>G polymorphism is not associated with smoking initiation, smoking persistence or smoking cessation.
David
Sean P
SP
Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. sean_david@brown.edu
Johnstone
Elaine
E
Griffiths
Siân-Elin
SE
Murphy
Michael
M
Yudkin
Patricia
P
Mant
David
D
Walton
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase