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Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
Published on: August 18, 2020
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Genome-wide association study identifies a novel locus for cannabis dependence.
A Agrawal1, Y-L Chou1, C E Carey2
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Molecular Psychiatry
|November 8, 2017
Summary
Researchers identified a novel significant genetic region on chromosome 10 associated with cannabis dependence. This single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs1409568, may influence brain function and hippocampal volume, offering insights into addiction genetics.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatric Disorders
Background:
- Cannabis dependence has moderate heritability, yet few genetic loci have been identified.
- Understanding the genetic underpinnings of cannabis use disorder is crucial due to its rising prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genome-wide significant loci associated with cannabis dependence.
- To characterize the functional role of identified genetic variants in brain regions relevant to addiction.
Main Methods:
- Conducted meta-analyses of genome-wide association study data from European descent individuals.
- Investigated SNP enrichment for epigenetic marks (H3K4me1, H3K427ac) and transcription factor binding.
- Examined replication in African American and European American cohorts and assessed association with hippocampal volume.
Main Results:
- A novel region on chromosome 10, containing correlated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), reached genome-wide significance.
- The SNP rs1409568 showed enhancer-associated epigenetic marks in addiction-relevant brain regions and predicted altered transcription factor binding.
- Modest replication for rs1409568 was observed in an African American cohort, and its minor allele was linked to increased right hippocampal volume.
Conclusions:
- The identified novel genetic locus represents a significant step in understanding the genetic etiology of cannabis dependence.
- The SNP rs1409568 is a promising candidate for further investigation into its role in addiction and its potential impact on brain structure.
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