title: Elevated alpha synuclein mRNA levels are associated with craving in patients with alcoholism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alpha synuclein has been found elevated in dopamine neurons of cocaine abusers and in rats whose alcohol preference is inbred.
  
  
  METHODS
  The alpha synuclein mRNA expression level was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the blood of 75 male alcoholics and 69 nondrinking healthy control subjects. Alcohol craving was assessed by the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale total score, including subscales for obsessive and compulsive craving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alpha synuclein expression in patients with alcoholism (2.79 DeltaCT; SD = 1.69; p = .021) was significantly higher when compared with healthy control subjects (2.20 DeltaCT; SD = 1.59). Increased alpha synuclein levels significantly predict Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale total score (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.06, p = .042) and especially Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale obsessive subscale (odds ratio = 1.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-2.58, p = .005) but not Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale compulsive subscale alcohol craving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher levels of alpha synuclein are associated with an increase in alcohol craving. The present results provide a novel pathophysiological approach to the explanation of craving mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. dominikus.boensch@psych.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Dominikus
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bönsch
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reulbach
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bayerlein
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497604:SNCA protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein