RESUMO
Because GABA(A) receptors containing alpha2 subunits are highly represented in areas of the brain, such as nucleus accumbens (NAcc), frontal cortex, and amygdala, regions intimately involved in signaling motivation and reward, we hypothesized that manipulations of this receptor subtype would influence processing of rewards. Voltage-clamp recordings from NAcc medium spiny neurons of mice with alpha2 gene deletion showed reduced synaptic GABA(A) receptor-mediated responses. Behaviorally, the deletion abolished cocaine's ability to potentiate behaviors conditioned to rewards (conditioned reinforcement), and to support behavioral sensitization. In mice with a point mutation in the benzodiazepine binding pocket of alpha2-GABA(A) receptors (alpha2H101R), GABAergic neurotransmission in medium spiny neurons was identical to that of WT (i.e., the mutation was silent), but importantly, receptor function was now facilitated by the atypical benzodiazepine Ro 15-4513 (ethyl 8-amido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5-a] [1,4] benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate). In alpha2H101R, but not WT mice, Ro 15-4513 administered directly into the NAcc-stimulated locomotor activity, and when given systemically and repeatedly, induced behavioral sensitization. These data indicate that activation of alpha2-GABA(A) receptors (most likely in NAcc) is both necessary and sufficient for behavioral sensitization. Consistent with a role of these receptors in addiction, we found specific markers and haplotypes of the GABRA2 gene to be associated with human cocaine addiction.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/metabolismo , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/psicologia , Cocaína/farmacologia , Aprendizagem/efeitos dos fármacos , Aprendizagem/fisiologia , Núcleo Accumbens/efeitos dos fármacos , Núcleo Accumbens/metabolismo , Receptores de GABA-A/genética , Receptores de GABA-A/metabolismo , Receptores de GABA-A/fisiologia , Adulto , Animais , Azidas/farmacologia , Benzodiazepinas/farmacologia , Sítios de Ligação/genética , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Cocaína/genética , Condicionamento Psicológico , Dopamina/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Camundongos Mutantes , Mutação Puntual , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Receptores de GABA-A/deficiência , Recompensa , Adulto JovemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Methamphetamine (MAMP) use is highly associated with psychiatric disorders with 12-13% of MAMP-dependent patients experiencing psychotic symptoms. Substance abuse and dependence may primarily involve the mesolimbic pathway and dopaminergic brain structures. It follows that dopaminergic genes, particularly COMT (encoding catechol-O-methyltransferase) and its val158met polymorphism (rs4680), are natural candidates for susceptibility loci to addiction. We have previously found an association with rs4680 and MAMP addiction. METHODS: We present additional genotyping of rs165599 in 423 cases and 502 controls of a Taiwanese MAMP user sample. We carried out an in-silico evaluation of rs165599 for a possible impact on microRNA binding or UTR stability. We also carried out a review of transcript sequences across the COMT 3'UTR. RESULTS: Genotype counts were (cases/controls): AA 94/110, AG 198/210 and GG 93/109. There were no significant allele or genotype differences between cases and controls for rs165599. However, a haplotype main effect was detected using both rs4680 and rs165599 using the χ²-test in UNPHASED. The global P-value was P=0.0044 with the effect appearing to derive from one haplotype that is underrepresented in cases: A/G for rs4680/rs165599 (haplotype P=0.001). rs165599 is a single nucleotide polymorphism located in the COMT 3' untranslated region (UTR), a noncoding transcript region subject to posttranscriptional down-regulation by mechanisms such as microRNA binding. A review of transcript sequences across the COMT 3'UTR found evidence to suggest antisense interference of COMT from the 3'UTR of the neighbouring 'Armadillo repeat gene deleted in velocardiofacial syndrome' gene.
Assuntos
Catecol O-Metiltransferase/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Haplótipos/genética , Metanfetamina/efeitos adversos , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/enzimologia , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Proteínas do Domínio Armadillo/genética , Criança , Biologia Computacional , Síndrome de DiGeorge/enzimologia , Síndrome de DiGeorge/genética , Ensaios Enzimáticos , Feminino , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Luciferases/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
There is evidence that a substantial part of genetic predisposition to prostate cancer (PCa) may be due to lower penetrance genes which are found by genome-wide association studies. We have recently conducted such a study and seven new regions of the genome linked to PCa risk have been identified. Three of these loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK2/3. The MSMB and KLK2/3 genes may be useful for PCa screening, and the LMTK2 gene might provide a potential therapeutic target. Together with results from other groups, there are now 23 germline genetic variants which have been reported. These results have the potential to be developed into a genetic test. However, we consider that marketing of tests to the public is premature, as PCa risk can not be evaluated fully at this stage and the appropriate screening protocols need to be developed. Follow-up validation studies, as well as studies to explore the psychological implications of genetic profile testing, will be vital prior to roll out into healthcare.
Assuntos
Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Testes Genéticos , Humanos , Calicreínas/genética , Masculino , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas Secretadas pela Próstata/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/genética , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Female BRCA gene mutation carriers are at increased risk for developing breast cancer. Ductal lavage is a novel method for sampling breast ductal fluid, providing epithelial cells for cytologic assessment and a source of free DNA for molecular analyses. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the BRCA loci in ductal lavage fluid is a potential biomarker of breast cancer risk. The LOH rate was measured at the BRCA1/2 loci and compared with that at a control locus (APC) using free DNA from the ductal lavage fluid of BRCA carriers and predictive test negative controls. We evaluated the reproducibility of these analyses. Free DNA sufficient for PCR amplification was obtained from 33 ductal lavage samples of 17 healthy women of known BRCA status (14 BRCA carriers and 3 controls). LOH rates of 36.4% to 56.3% at the BRCA1 locus and 45% to 61.5% at the BRCA2 locus were found among BRCA carriers. The LOH rate at the APC locus was lower (18.5%). The interaliquot reproducibility for the D17S855 marker of the BRCA1 locus was 66.7%. Intraaliquot reproducibility was 90%. Although we successfully isolated sufficient free DNA from ductal lavage fluid for PCR amplification, the degree of reproducibility of these LOH studies raises questions about the robustness of this technique as a risk assessment tool in the evaluation of high-risk women. Further studies are required to evaluate the specificity and predictive value of LOH in ductal lavage fluid for breast cancer development.
Assuntos
Líquidos Corporais/citologia , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Carcinoma Ductal de Mama/genética , Genes BRCA1 , Genes BRCA2 , Heterozigoto , Perda de Heterozigosidade , Adulto , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Carcinoma Ductal de Mama/patologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , DNA/genética , DNA/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/patologia , Feminino , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Prospectivos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Irrigação TerapêuticaRESUMO
We previously reported an association with a putative functional variant in the ADAMTSL3 gene, just below genome-wide significance in a genome-wide association study of schizophrenia. As variants impacting the function of ADAMTSL3 (a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease domain with thrombospondin type I motifs-like-3) could illuminate a novel disease mechanism and a potentially specific target, we have used complementary approaches to further evaluate the association. We imputed genotypes and performed high density association analysis using data from the HapMap and 1000 genomes projects. To review all variants that could potentially cause the association, and to identify additional possible pathogenic rare variants, we sequenced ADAMTSL3 in 92 schizophrenics. A total of 71 ADAMTSL3 variants were identified by sequencing, many were also seen in the 1000 genomes data, but 26 were novel. None of the variants identified by re-sequencing was in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the associated markers. Imputation analysis refined association between ADAMTSL3 and schizophrenia, and highlighted additional common variants with similar levels of association. We evaluated the functional consequences of all variants identified by sequencing, or showing direct or imputed association. The strongest evidence for function remained with the originally associated variant, rs950169, suggesting that this variant may be causal of the association. Rare variants were also identified with possible functional impact. Our study confirms ADAMTSL3 as a candidate for further investigation in schizophrenia, using the variants identified here. The utility of imputation analysis is demonstrated, and we recommend wider use of this method to re-evaluate the existing canon of suggestive schizophrenia associations.
Assuntos
Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genética , Esquizofrenia/genética , Proteínas ADAMTS , Frequência do Gene , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Genótipo , Humanos , Desequilíbrio de Ligação , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting males in developed countries. It shows consistent evidence of familial aggregation, but the causes of this aggregation are mostly unknown. To identify common alleles associated with prostate cancer risk, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using blood DNA samples from 1,854 individuals with clinically detected prostate cancer diagnosed at =60 years or with a family history of disease, and 1,894 population-screened controls with a low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration (<0.5 ng/ml). We analyzed these samples for 541,129 SNPs using the Illumina Infinium platform. Initial putative associations were confirmed using a further 3,268 cases and 3,366 controls. We identified seven loci associated with prostate cancer on chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 19 and X (P = 2.7 x 10(-8) to P = 8.7 x 10(-29)). We confirmed previous reports of common loci associated with prostate cancer at 8q24 and 17q. Moreover, we found that three of the newly identified loci contain candidate susceptibility genes: MSMB, LMTK2 and KLK3.