title: The BDNF p.Val66Met polymorphism, childhood trauma, and brain volumes in adolescents with alcohol abuse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have indicated that early life adversity, genetic factors and alcohol dependence are associated with reduced brain volume in adolescents. However, data on the interactive effects of early life adversity, genetic factors (e.g. p.Met66 allele of BDNF), and alcohol dependence, on brain structure in adolescents is limited. We examined whether the BDNF p.Val66Met polymorphism interacts with childhood trauma to predict alterations in brain volume in adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 160 participants (80 adolescents with DSM-IV AUD and 80 age- and gender-matched controls) who were assessed for trauma using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Magnetic resonance images were acquired for a subset of the cohort (58 AUD and 58 controls) and volumes of global and regional structures were estimated using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Samples were genotyped for the p.Val66Met polymorphism using the TaqMan® Assay. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and post-hoc t-tests were conducted using SPM8 VBM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant associations, corrected for multiple comparisons, were found between the BDNF p.Val66Met polymorphism, brain volumes and AUD in adolescents with childhood trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings suggest that the BDNF p.Met66 allele and childhood trauma may not be associated with reduced structural volumes in AUD. Other genetic contributors should be investigated in future studies.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Human Genetics Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa. dlvsha006@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Shareefa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalvie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. Dan.stein@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. kck5@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Karestan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.affiliation: Neurobehavioral Research Inc, Honolulu, HI, USA. vcardenas-nicolson@nbresearch.com.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. CZNNAT001@myuct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Natalie L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Cuzen
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Human Genetics Research Unit, Division of Human Genetics, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa. raj.ramesar@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramesar
authors.affiliation: Neurobehavioral Research Inc, Honolulu, HI, USA. george@nbresearch.com.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. drsamanthabrooks@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics; D009929:Organ Size; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine