Association between heroin dependence and 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between four polymorphisms of the 5-HT(2A) receptor and 5-HT transporter genes and heroin dependence.


METHODS
113 heroin- dependent patients (DSM-IV criteria) and 420 unrelated healthy controls from Asturias (Northern Spain) were genotyped using standard methods.


RESULTS
There was an apparent difference in the distribution of genotypes for A-1438G polymorphisms (p = 0.024, not significant after Bonferroni correction). The 5-HT(2A) -1438A allele was significantly more common in patients than controls [0.55 and 0.45, respectively; corrected p = 0.042, OR = 1.51 (95% CI = 1.13-2.03)]. An interaction was observed between A-1438G of 5-HT(2A) and 5-HTT polymorphisms. The association between the -1438AA vs. AG/GG genotypes and heroin dependence was enhanced in the presence of 12-repeat 5-HTT VNTR and short 5-HTTLPR alleles [24.8% in heroin-dependent patients vs. 12.6% in controls; corrected p = 0.045, OR = 2.28 (95% CI = 1.36-3.82)].


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support a contribution of the 5-HT(2A) gene to susceptibility to heroin dependence, as well as a possible synergistic effect of 5-HT(2A) and 5-HTT genes on susceptibility to heroin dependence.
Sáiz
P A
PA
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain. frank@uniovi.es
García-Portilla
M P
MP
Arango
C
C
Morales
B
B
Martínez-Barrondo
S
S
Alvarez
C
C
San Narciso
G
G
Carreño
E
E
Alvarez
V
V
Coto
E
E
Bobes
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins