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DRD4 exon III VNTR polymorphism—susceptibility factor for heroin dependence? Results of a case-control and a family-based association approach

Molecular Psychiatry volume 5, pages 101–104 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Dopaminergic abnormalities are implicated in the pathogenesis of substance abuse.1 Recently, two reports have been published suggesting an association between opioid dependence and presence of long alleles of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene exon III VNTR.2,3 We have attempted to replicate this finding using a two-tiered strategy employing independent case-control and family-based association samples. Our study was possibly the largest candidate gene association study to date on opioid dependence in a sample of 815 subjects, 396 of whom were patients. We found long alleles of the DRD4 exon III VNTR in similar frequency among 285 heroin addicts and 197 controls. Furthermore, no preferential transmission of long alleles to affected offspring was observed in a sample of 111 patients and their parents. Our results, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that alleles of the DRD4 exon III VNTR are susceptibility factors for opioid dependence in man.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to all patients and relatives for participation in this study granted by BMBF No. 01EB9418. We thank Susanne Albrecht, Daniela Bohnen, Kathrin Meyer zur Capellen, Gernot Schoch, Eva Sohne, Christian Sulzbach and Olaf Weiffenbach for their help in diagnosis and sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    P Franke, D Lichtermann & W Maier

  2. Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    M M Nöthen, T Wang, H Neidt & P Propping

  3. Institute of Medical Statistics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    M Knapp

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    T Sander

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  1. P Franke
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  2. M M Nöthen
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  3. T Wang
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  4. M Knapp
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  7. T Sander
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  8. P Propping
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  9. W Maier
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Correspondence to P Franke.

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Franke, P., Nöthen, M., Wang, T. et al. DRD4 exon III VNTR polymorphism—susceptibility factor for heroin dependence? Results of a case-control and a family-based association approach. Mol Psychiatry 5, 101–104 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000583

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000583

Keywords

  • addiction
  • dopamine D4 receptor
  • association study
  • candidate gene
  • substance abuse
  • behavior genetics

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