title: The association of HTR3A mRNA expression and craving in Han Chinese alcohol-dependent patients: a preliminary study.
abstract: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 3 receptor plays a crucial role in craving of alcohol dependence. Recent evidence shows that chronic alcohol exposure causes changes in gene expression and induces behavioral changes. However, the relationship between gene expression of 5-HT3 receptor and craving in alcohol-dependent patients is not fully understood.
  
  
  
  The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the relationship between gene expression of the 5-HT3 receptor and craving in alcohol-dependent patients and the epigenetic mechanism.
  
  
  
  We recruited 50 male Han Chinese alcohol-dependent patients and 46 male Han Chinese healthy controls. We investigated the changes of HTR3A mRNA, which encodes the 5-HT3 receptor A subunit, and H3K9 acetylation in HTR3A promoter region. Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) was used to assess the craving of alcohol-dependent patients relative to controls.
  
  
  
  HTR3A mRNA expression levels and acetylation levels of H3K9 in the HTR3A promoter region were significantly higher in the alcohol-dependent patients. HTR3A mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with OCDS scores. Moreover, HTR3A mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with acetylation levels of H3K9 in HTR3A promoter region.
  
  
  
  The current findings suggest that HTR3A mRNA expression levels were positively correlated with craving in Han Chinese alcohol-dependent patients. The regulation of H3K9 histone acetylation in HTR3A promoter region may offer a target for the treatment of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Addiction , Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Xinxiang , Henan Province , China.
authors.forename: Ya-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , Ninth People Hospital of Zhengzhou , Zhengzhou , Henan Province , China.
authors.forename: Lin-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: c Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: d People Hospital of Cangzhou , Cangzhou , Hebei Province , China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: a Department of Addiction , Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Xinxiang , Henan Province , China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: e Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan Province , China.
authors.forename: Tie-Qiao
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: e Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan Province , China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: c Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Addiction , Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University , Xinxiang , Henan Province , China.
authors.forename: Rui-Ling
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D066249:Craving; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C509409:HTR3A protein, human; D044406:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3
keywords: Alcohol dependence; H3K9 acetylation; HTR3A gene; craving