title: Alterations in DNA-methylation of the dopamine-receptor 2 gene are associated with abstinence and health care utilization in individuals with a lifetime history of pathologic gambling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies point towards a role for dopaminergic circuits in the pathophysiology of problematic gambling behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate alterations of DNA methylation in the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2)-gene in participants with pathologic gambling behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study was part of a large epidemiological study on pathologic gambling in Germany. DNA methylation of the DRD2-gene was analyzed from oral mucosa using next generation bisulfite sequencing. The final sample included 77 participants. The study showed significantly lower methylation levels of the DRD2-gene in abstinent patients over the last 12 or 30months compared to non-abstinent participants. Furthermore, participants without any treatment utilization regarding gambling behavior showed higher DRD2-gene methylation levels compared to treatment-seeking participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DNA-methylation patterns in the DRD2-gene were altered in respect to abstinence over a 12-month or a 30-month period and to treatment utilization with higher methylation levels in non-abstinent and participants without treatment-seeking behavior. These results point towards a pathophysiologic relevance of altered DRD2-expression due to changes of DNA methylation in pathologic gambling behavior.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Research (CARe), Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany. Electronic address: hillemacher.thomas@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neurosciences Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Research (CARe), Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bischof
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rumpf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005715:Gambling / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2
keywords: DNA-methylation; DRD2; Dopamine; Epigenetics; Pathologic gambling