title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Val66Met) genetic polymorphism is associated with substance abuse in males.
abstract: Data from animal studies and from genetic scans in humans suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophic factor family, may be involved in the mechanisms underlying substance abuse. The present study tested the hypothesis that the BDNF-gene Val66Met polymorphism is associated with substance abuse. We studied this polymorphism in 103 methamphetamine- and 200 heroin-dependent cases and 122 normal controls. We also considered the association of this polymorphism with age of onset of substance abuse in the heroin-dependent cases. Significant differences in BDNF Val66Met genotype distribution were found between subjects dependent on methamphetamine (P = 0.046) or heroin (P = 0.045) and controls, suggesting that the lower 66Met carrier frequency is associated with substance abuse. Furthermore, in the heroin-dependent group, the Val/Val homozygotes had a later onset of substance abuse compared with the Met allele carriers. The results suggest that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism or a nearby locus may be involved in the pathogenesis of substance abuse. Our findings support previous genetic scan results showing that BDNF may contribute to substance abuse vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Ching Kuo Institute of Management and Health, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chen-Jee
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Younger W-Y
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Tai-Jui
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008694:Methamphetamine