title: DAT1 methylation changes in alcohol-dependent individuals vs. controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dopaminergic system plays a crucial role in the development of alcohol dependence. Regulation of the extracellular dopamine concentration is driven by dopamine transporter. Both, the expression and function of dopamine transporter, are influenced by chronic alcohol intake. Dopamine transporter (DAT) gene is also supposed to be differentially methylated in alcohol-dependent patients than in controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. We analyzed the methylation status in 23 CpG islands of DAT gene promoter in alcohol dependent subjects (n = 171) and control (n = 160) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistical differences in the general frequency of DAT CpG islands was revealed between patients (altogether 175 methylated islands) and control subjects (170 methylated islands (p = 0.86). However it was revealed that one of analyzed positions is significantly more often methylated in control subjects than in alcohol dependent individuals (p = 0.0296).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further subsequent studies are necessary to determine whether the methylation change of one (out of 23) CpG site results in DAT expression changes.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Jasiewicz
authors: Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355 Poznan, Poland.
authors: Błażej
authors: B
authors: Rubiś
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Samochowiec
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Iwona
authors: I
authors: Małecka
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Aleksandra
authors: A
authors: Suchanecka
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Jabłoński
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland. Electronic address: annagrzywacz@gazeta.pl.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Grzywacz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493214:SLC6A3 protein, human
keywords: Alcohol dependence; DAT; Dopamine transporter; Methylation