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VMAT2 gene (SLC18A2) variants associated with a greater risk for developing opioid dependence
Matthew Randesi1, Wim van den Brink2, Orna Levran1
1Laboratory of the Biology of Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Abstract:
Aim: To determine if selected serotonergic and noradrenergic gene variants are associated with heroin addiction. Subjects & methods: A total of 126 variants in 19 genes in subjects with Dutch European ancestry from The Netherlands. Subjects included 281 opioid-dependent volunteers in methadone maintenance or heroin-assisted treatment, 163 opioid-exposed but not opioid-dependent volunteers who have been using illicit opioids but never became opioid-dependent and 153 healthy controls. Results: Nominal associations were indicated for 20 variants in six genes including an experiment-wise significant association from the combined effect of three SLC18A2 SNPs (rs363332, rs363334 and rs363338) with heroin dependence (pfinal = 0.047). Conclusion: Further studies are warranted to confirm and elucidate the role of these variants in the vulnerability to opioid addiction.
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