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Chronic Smoking and Alcoholism Change Expression of Selective Genes in the Human Prefrontal Cortex
Author(s) -
FlatscherBader Traute,
Wilce Peter A.
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1530-0277.2006.00106.x
Subject(s) - prefrontal cortex , gene expression , gene , comorbidity , alcohol dependence , biology , alcohol , neuroscience , medicine , genetics , biochemistry , cognition
Background: Alcoholism is commonly associated with chronic smoking. A number of gene expression profiles of regions within the human mesocorticolimbic system have identified potential alcohol‐sensitive genes; however, the influence of smoking on these changes was not taken into account. This study addressed the impact of alcohol and smoking on the expression of 4 genes, previously identified as alcoholism‐sensitive, in the human prefrontal cortex (PFC). Methods: mRNA expression of apolipoprotein D, tissue inhibitor of the metalloproteinase 3, high‐affinity glial glutamate transporter and midkine, was measured in the PFC of alcoholic subjects and controls with and without smoking comorbidity using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results show that alcohol affects transcription of some of these genes. Additionally, smoking has a marked influence on gene expression. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for careful case selection in future gene expression studies to delineate the adaptive molecular process associated with smoking and alcohol.