Premium
Cannabis receptor haplotype associated with fewer cannabis dependence symptoms in adolescents
Author(s) -
Hopfer Christian J.,
Young Susan E.,
Purcell Shaun,
Crowley Thomas J.,
Stallings Michael C.,
Corley Robin P.,
Rhee Soo Hyun,
Smolen Andrew,
Krauter Ken,
Hewitt John K.,
Ehringer Marissa A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part b: neuropsychiatric genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.393
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1552-485X
pISSN - 1552-4841
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.b.30378
Subject(s) - cannabis , cannabis dependence , haplotype , single nucleotide polymorphism , cannabinoid , snp , psychiatry , psychology , medicine , allele , genotype , gene , genetics , biology , receptor , cannabidiol
Abstract Cannabis is a major substance of abuse, and the gene encoding for the central cannabinoid receptor (CNR1) is a logical candidate gene for vulnerability toward developing symptoms of cannabis dependence. We studied four single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CNR1 gene for association with having one or more symptoms of cannabis dependence in 541 adolescent subjects who had all tried cannabis five or more times. Cases (327) were defined as those who had tried marijuana and developed one or more symptoms, and controls (214) as those who had tried marijuana but developed no dependence symptoms. Cannabis dependence symptoms were assessed in these youth when they were 17 or older with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview—Substance Abuse Module. Univariate (single‐marker) association tests demonstrated that SNP rs806380, located in intron 2 of the CNR1 gene, was significantly associated with developing one or more cannabis dependence symptoms, with the G allele having a protective effect ( P < 0.02). This was consistent with the results of the global haplotype test ( P < 0.01). One of the common haplotypes examined (present in 21% of the subjects) was significantly associated with a lower rate of having one or more cannabis dependence symptoms. Our findings provide evidence suggesting that a common CNR1 haplotype is associated with developing fewer cannabis dependence symptoms among adolescents who have experimented with cannabis. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.