title: BDNF Val(66)Met genotype is associated with drug-seeking phenotypes in heroin-dependent individuals: a pilot study.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val(66)Met genotype has been associated with neurobehavioral deficits. To examine its relevance for addiction, we examined BDNF genotype differences in drug-seeking behavior. Heroin-dependent volunteers (n = 128) completed an interview that assessed past-month naturalistic drug-seeking/use behaviors. In African Americans (n = 74), the Met allele was uncommon (carrier frequency 6.8%); thus, analyses focused on European Americans (n = 54), in whom the Met allele was common (carrier frequency 37.0%). In their natural setting, Met carriers (n = 20) reported more time- and cost-intensive heroin-seeking and more cigarette use than Val homozygotes (n = 34). BDNF Val(66)Met genotype predicted 18.4% of variance in 'weekly heroin investment' (purchasing time × amount × frequency). These data suggest that the BDNF Met allele may confer a 'preferred drug-invested' phenotype, resistant to moderating effects of higher drug prices and non-drug reinforcement. These preliminary hypothesis-generating findings require replication, but are consistent with pre-clinical data that demonstrate neurotrophic influence in drug reinforcement. Whether this genotype is relevant to other abused substances besides opioids or nicotine, or treatment response, remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Substance Abuse Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. mgreen@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.forename: Caren L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Steinmiller
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sliwerska
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundahl
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burmeister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D058999:Drug-Seeking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine