The Role of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 7 in Alcohol Dependence
Author Information
Author(s): Sylvane Desrivières, Sergey P. Pronko, Anbarasu Lourdusamy, Francesca Ducci, Paula L. Hoffman, Norbert Wodarz, Monika Ridinger, Marcella Rietschel, Diana Zelenika, Mark Lathrop, Gunter Schumann, Boris Tabakoff
Primary Institution: Medical Research Council Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, King's College London
Hypothesis
Variations in the ADCY7 gene in humans might confer susceptibility to differences in alcohol consumption, affecting the development of dependence.
Conclusion
Adenylyl cyclase Type 7 is a critical component of the molecular pathways contributing to alcohol drinking and the development of alcohol dependence.
Supporting Evidence
- Female mice with a disrupted Adcy7 gene showed higher preference for alcohol than wild-type mice.
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ADCY7 gene were associated with alcohol dependence in women.
- The presence of the minor allele at rs2302717 reduces the risk of developing alcohol dependence by approximately 1.4 in females.
Takeaway
This study found that a specific gene related to alcohol processing affects how much alcohol women drink and their risk of becoming dependent on it.
Methodology
The study involved measuring alcohol consumption and preference in genetically modified mice and analyzing genetic polymorphisms in a sample of alcohol-dependent individuals.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the genetic focus and the specific populations studied.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on a specific gene and its effects, which may not encompass all factors influencing alcohol dependence.
Participant Demographics
The human sample included 1703 alcohol-dependent individuals (1349 men, 354 women) and 1347 control subjects (714 men, 633 women).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0139
Confidence Interval
0.54–0.93
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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