알코올 의존에서 Catalase 유전자 다형성의 연합 연구

Association Study of Catalase Gene Polymorphism in Alcohol Dependence

Objective：There is increasing evidence that free radicalmediated CNS neuronal dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of alcoholics. This study was performed to examine the relationship between antioxidant defense system and alcoholics by analyzing polymorphism of catalase gene, an antioxidant enzyme. Method：Genotype and allele frequencies in promoter region in the catalase gene using restriction fragment length polymorphism were studied between 117 Korean controls and 94 Korean alcoholics. Results：No difference was found between the alcohol dependent patients and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of HinfI polymorphism in the catalase gene. However, significant difference was found between the alcohol dependent patients whose age of first drinking are 18 years old or less and the normal controls in the genotype and allele frequency. Conclusions：The results do not support an association between polymorphism of catalase gene and alcoholics. However, it is suggested that HinfI polymorphism in the catalase gene could be associated with early age of first drinking in alcoholics.