title: Association between alcoholism and the genetic polymorphisms of the GABAA receptor genes on chromosome 5q33-34 in Korean population.
abstract: Family, twin, and adoption studies have demonstrated that genes play an important role in the development of alcoholism. We investigated the association between alcoholism and the genetic polymorphisms of the GABAA receptor genes on chromosome 5q33-34 in Korean population. The genotype of the GABAA receptor gene polymorphisms were determined by performing polymerase chain reaction genotyping for 172 normal controls and 162 male alcoholics who are hospitalized in alcoholism treatment institute. We found a significant association between the genetic polymorphisms of the GABAA alpha1 and GABAA alpha6 receptor gene and alcoholism. The GG genotype of the GABAA alpha1 receptor gene was associated with the onset age of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and a high score on the Korean version of the ADS. However, there was no association between the genetic polymorphisms of the GABAA beta2 and gamma2 receptor gene and alcoholisms. Our finding suggest that genetic polymorphisms of the GABAA alpha1 and GABAA alpha6 receptor gene may be associated with the development of alcoholism and that the GG genotype of the GABAA alpha1 receptor gene play an important role in the development of the early onset and the severe type of alcoholism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chul-Soon
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Gyu-Hee
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Bong-Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: C546240:GABRA1 protein, human; C546171:GABRA6 protein, human; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D004247:DNA