Genetic variants in the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript gene (CARTPT) and cocaine dependence.
Dopaminergic brain systems have been implicated to play a major role in drug reward, thus making genes involved in these circuits plausible candidates for susceptibility to substance use disorders. The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTPT) is involved in reward and feeding behavior and has functional characteristics of an endogenous psychostimulant. In this study we tested the hypothesis that variation in the CARTPT gene increases susceptibility to cocaine dependence in individuals of African descent. Genotypes of three HapMap tagging SNPs (rs6894758; rs11575893; rs17358300) across the CARTPT gene region were obtained in cocaine dependent individuals (n=348) and normal controls (n=256). All subjects were of African descent. There were no significant differences in allele, genotype or haplotype frequencies between cases and controls for any of the tested SNPs. Our results do not support an association of the CARTPT gene with cocaine dependence; however, additional studies using larger samples, comprehensive SNP coverage, and different populations are necessary to conclusively rule out CARTPT as a contributing factor in the etiology of cocaine dependence.
Lohoff
Falk W
FW
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lohoff@mail.med.upenn.edu
Bloch
Paul J
PJ
Weller
Andrew E
AE
Nall
Aleksandra H
AH
Doyle
Glenn A
GA
Buono
Russell J
RJ
Ferraro
Thomas N
TN
Kampman
Kyle M
KM
Pettinati
Helen M
HM
Dackis
Charles A
CA
Oslin
David W
DW
O'Brien
Charles P
CP
Berrettini
Wade H
WH
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein