title: No association between functional catechol O-methyl transferase 1947A>G polymorphism and smoking initiation, persistent smoking or smoking cessation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. sean_david@brown.edu
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: Siân-Elin
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yudkin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mant
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase