title: Putative association between the -1415 T/C polymorphism of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT1) gene and alcohol use disorders in women and men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, which responds to the levels of polyamines, modifies the neurotoxicity caused by ethanol. We aimed to investigate if the functionality of the spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT1) gene could be associated with a differential risk for alcoholism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a sample of 586 subjects: 104 alcohol-dependent patients, 273 patients with psychiatric disorders but without substance dependence, and 209 healthy controls. After gender stratification, the allele frequency distribution of the SSAT1 gene was compared between these three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In females, the TC genotype was significantly more frequent in alcohol-dependent patients than in non-alcohol-dependent psychiatric controls (χ(2 )= 7.509 df = 2, p = 0.023). A trend was found when alcohol-dependent females were compared with the healthy control group (χ(2 )= 4.897 df = 2, p = 0.086). No statistical differences were found among the males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences in the regulation of SSAT1 gene expression may possibly be due to gender-specific effects of stress, ethanol toxicity, and/or polyamines levels. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation, IIS, Madrid Autonoma University , CIBERSAM, Madrid , Spain .
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaquero-Lorenzo
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Castromán
authors.forename: Carlos Riaza
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bermudo-Soriano
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saiz-Ruiz
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Piqueras
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baca-García
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D000099228:Diamine N-Acetyltransferase
chemical_list: D000123:Acetyltransferases; D000099228:Diamine N-Acetyltransferase