title: Polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3/DAT1) and alcohol dependence in humans: a systematic review.
abstract: Dopamine neurotransmission has been a key player in attempts to identify genetic factors involved in alcohol dependence. The dopamine transporter terminates dopaminergic neurotransmission, making the gene encoding the transporter (SLC6A3/DAT1) an attractive candidate in clinical studies on alcohol dependence. We conducted a systematic review of 18 studies examining associations between polymorphisms in DAT1 and alcohol dependence. The DAT1 variable number tandem repeat, the most frequent studied polymorphism in DAT1, did not show a direct association with alcohol dependence in general. Several, but not all, studies found that the DAT1 variable number tandem repeat (9-repeat allele) was associated with alcohol-withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures and delirium tremens. We discuss shortcomings, such as lack of power and disregarding moderating variables, as well as future challenges of gene association studies.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. c.vanderzwaluw@bsi.ru.nl
authors.forename: Carmen S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: van der Zwaluw
authors.forename: Rutger C M E
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buitelaar
authors.forename: Robbert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verkes
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: Ron H J
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Scholte
mesh_terms: D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000235:genetics*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human