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Association of the CHRNA 4 Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Gene with Frequency of Binge Drinking in Young Adults
Author(s) -
Coon Hilary,
Piasecki Thomas M.,
Cook Edwin H.,
Dunn Diane,
Mermelstein Robin J.,
Weiss Robert B.,
Can Dale S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.12319
Subject(s) - binge drinking , single nucleotide polymorphism , cohort , young adult , psychology , gene , genetics , medicine , biology , demography , poison control , gerontology , genotype , environmental health , injury prevention , sociology
Background Binge drinking is responsible for over half of all alcohol‐related deaths and results in significant health and economic costs to individuals and society. Knowledge of genetic aspects of this behavior, particularly as it emerges in young adulthood, could lead to improved treatment and prevention programs. Methods We have focused on the association of variation in neuronal nicotinic receptor subunit genes ( CHRN s) in a cohort of 702 H ispanic and non‐ H ispanic W hite young adults who are part of the S ocial and E motional C ontexts of A dolescent S moking P atterns ( SECASP ) study. Fifty‐five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the variation in 5 CHRN s ( CHRNA 4 , CHRNB 2 , CHRNA 2, CHRNB 3A6, and CHRNA 5A3B4 ) were studied. Results Frequency of binge drinking and other correlated alcohol consumption measures were significantly associated with SNP s in CHRNA 4 ( p ‐values ranged from 0.0003 to 0.02), but not with SNP s in other CHRN s. This association was independent of smoking status in our cohort. Conclusions Variants in CHRNA 4 may contribute to risk of binge drinking in young adults in this cohort. Results will need to be confirmed in independent samples.