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Association analysis of the GABAA receptor subunit genes cluster on 5q33–34 and alcohol dependence in a Japanese population

Molecular Psychiatry volume 5, pages 301–307 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Recent investigations suggest that genetic susceptibility to alcohol dependence may be conferred by GABAA receptor subunit genes. In this study, three RFLPs at the GABAAβ2, GABAAα6, GABAAα1 and two at the GABAAγ2 receptor subunit genes, were examined for association with alcohol dependence in 189 subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for this disorder and 152 unrelated controls from a Japanese population. The results demonstrated no association between the AlwNI RFLP at the GABAAα6 receptor subunit gene and alcohol dependence (P = 0.059). However, the NciI RFLP at the GABAAγ2 receptor subunit gene was associated with alcohol dependence comorbid with antisocial personality disorder (P = 0.021). This supports a recent finding reporting an association between the GABAAγ2 receptor subunit gene and alcohol dependence with criminal record in a Finnish population. Taking into account the effects of multiple comparisons, this result should be interpreted with caution pending replication.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Peacock Foundation and the Psychiatry Research Trust. We thank Mr Steven Chen, Centec Scientific Inc, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, for providing the notebook computer used to analyse the data in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre (SGDPRC), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    E-W Loh, C-K Chen & D Ball

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    E-W Loh, R Murray & C-K Chen

  3. Division of Clinical Research, National Institute on Alcoholism, Kurihama National Hospital, 5–3–1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa, 239–0841, Japan

    S Higuchi & S Matsushita

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  1. E-W Loh
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  2. S Higuchi
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  4. R Murray
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Correspondence to D Ball.

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Loh, EW., Higuchi, S., Matsushita, S. et al. Association analysis of the GABAA receptor subunit genes cluster on 5q33–34 and alcohol dependence in a Japanese population. Mol Psychiatry 5, 301–307 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000719

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