한국인에서 알코올 의존과 μ 아편계 수용체 유전자 다형성의 연관성에 관한 연구

Association of Functional μOpioid Receptor Genotypes with Alcohol Dependence in Koreans

Objectives：Previous studies have shown that the endogenous opioid system, which plays an important role in drinking behavior, might be related to the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence. And a recent study reported that the affinity of μ opioid receptor, which is closely related to the endogenous opioid system activity, is affected by the genotype of μ opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) A118G. The present study examined the association of the genotype of OPRM1 A118G with alcohol dependence in Koreans. Methods：The author studied the genotype of OPRM1 A118G in 112 Korean patients with alcohol dependence and 140 healthy Korean control subjects. Results：1) A statistically significant increase in A/G or G/G genotype of OPRM1 A118G was observed in patients with alcohol dependence (67.0%) compared to the controls (51.4%). 2) Among patients with alcohol dependence, no significant difference in OPRM1 A118G polymorphism was observed relative to the age at which drinking started, the age of onset of alcohol-related problems, the age of first admission to psychiatric hospital for alcohol-related problems, the family history of alcohol dependence in the first-degree relatives or of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. But the frequency of A/G or G/G genotypes of OPRM1 A118G was significantly higher in those who drank 17 days or more per month in the previous year (80.8%) than in those with fewer days of drinking (56.5%). Conclusion：These results suggest that A/G or G/G genotypes of μ opioid receptor gene A118G are important genetic factors in the etiology of alcohol dependence