title: Lack of association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  About 25,000 serious methamphetamine abusers live in the Czech Republic among the total population of 10 million. Dependence on methamphetamine is markedly related to the brain neurotransmitter dopamine, metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme. The main aim of the study was to ascertain whether the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism is associated with methamphetamine dependence in this Central European country.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty-three subjects dependent on methamphetamine (women N=44), parents of sixty-seven dependent individuals, and four hundred healthy controls (women N=250) were involved into the study. We performed a population-based as well as family-based genetic association studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did not find any significant association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence using the population-based or family-based design (p=0.41-0.66; Chi-Square Test or UNPHASED program, Version 3.1.4, respectively). We found a trend toward a statistically significant difference between the Val allele carriers and Met/Met homozygotes in the frequence of psychotic symptoms induced by methamphetamine (more frequent in Val carriers; p=0.062; Chi-Square Test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further research involving haplotype analysis and other dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms in large populations is needed. More attention should also be paid to possible role of the Val158Met catechol-O-methyl-transferase gene polymorphism in individual clinical subtypes of dependence on methamphetamine involving e.g. psychotic features or violence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatrics, Charles University, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. hosak@lfhk.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hosák
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Serý
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beranek
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D018153:Czech Republic; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017354:Point Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase