title: Association of the CHRNA4 neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit gene with frequency of binge drinking in young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Binge drinking is responsible for over half of all alcohol-related deaths and results in significant health and economic costs to individuals and society. Knowledge of genetic aspects of this behavior, particularly as it emerges in young adulthood, could lead to improved treatment and prevention programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have focused on the association of variation in neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit genes (CHRNs) in a cohort of 702 Hispanic and non-Hispanic White young adults who are part of the Social and Emotional Contexts of Adolescent Smoking Patterns (SECASP) study. Fifty-five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the variation in 5 CHRNs (CHRNA4, CHRNB2, CHRNA2, CHRNB3A6, and CHRNA5A3B4) were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency of binge drinking and other correlated alcohol consumption measures were significantly associated with SNPs in CHRNA4 (p-values ranged from 0.0003 to 0.02), but not with SNPs in other CHRNs. This association was independent of smoking status in our cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variants in CHRNA4 may contribute to risk of binge drinking in young adults in this cohort. Results will need to be confirmed in independent samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coon
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Piasecki
authors.forename: Edwin H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mermelstein
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Dale S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Cannon
mesh_terms: D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic
keywords: Binge Drinking; Genetic Association; Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Genes