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.
Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lohoff@mail.med.upenn.edu
Falk W
FW
Lohoff
Paul J
PJ
Bloch
Andrew E
AE
Weller
Aleksandra H
AH
Nall
Glenn A
GA
Doyle
Russell J
RJ
Buono
Thomas N
TN
Ferraro
Kyle M
KM
Kampman
Helen M
HM
Pettinati
Charles A
CA
Dackis
David W
DW
Oslin
Charles P
CP
O'Brien
Wade H
WH
Berrettini
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