Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in the neuropeptide Y gene: no evidence for association with alcoholism in a German population sample.
BACKGROUND
Several lines of evidence from animal and electrophysiological studies indicate that the neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene is involved in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence. Recent studies have provided evidence for an association between a Leu7Pro polymorphism, as well as 2 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NPY gene (G-602T, T-399C) and alcohol dependence. The aim of the present study was to analyze these variants in a large sample of the Munich Gene Bank of Alcoholism.


METHODS
We performed single SNP and haplotype studies in 465 alcohol dependent patients and 448 healthy controls with 3 SNPs in the promoter region (-883ins/del, G-602T, T-399C) and the Leu7Pro polymorphism in exon 2 of the NPY gene.


RESULTS
Neither single SNP-, nor haplotype analysis could detect significant associations with alcohol dependence. Additionally we could not detect any relation to Cloninger's Type 1/2 or Babor's Type A/B classification, to withdrawal symptoms, to the age of onset or to the amount of alcohol intake.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our results suggest that the analyzed SNPs, as well as the corresponding haplotypes of the NPY gene are unlikely to play a major role in the pathophysiology of alcohol dependence in the investigated sample from the German population. Further analyses are needed to confirm the present results.
Zill
Peter
P
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. peter.zill@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
Preuss
Ulrich W
UW
Koller
Gabrielle
G
Bondy
Brigitta
B
Soyka
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D044382:Population Groups
D009478:Neuropeptide Y