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Title: Repeat variation in the human PER2 gene as a new genetic marker associated with cocaine addiction and brain dopamine D2 receptor availability

Journal Article · · Translational Psychiatry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.11· OSTI ID:1624904
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Medical Dept. Center for Translational Neuroimaging
  2. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, MD (United States)

Low dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) levels in the striatum are consistently reported in cocaine abusers; inter-individual variations in the degree of the decrease suggest a modulating effect of genetic makeup on vulnerability to addiction. The PER2 (Period 2) gene belongs to the clock genes family of circadian regulators; circadian oscillations of PER2 expression in the striatum was modulated by dopamine through D2Rs. Aberrant periodicity of PER2 contributes to the incidence and severity of various brain disorders, including drug addiction. Here we report a newly identified variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the human PER2 gene (VNTR in the third intron). We found significant differences in the VNTR alleles prevalence across ethnic groups so that the major allele (4 repeats (4R)) is over-represented in non-African population (4R homozygosity is 88%), but not in African Americans (homozygosity 51%). We also detected a biased PER2 genotype distribution among healthy controls and cocaine addicted individuals. In African Americans, the proportion of 4R/three repeat (3R) carriers in healthy controls is much lower than that in cocaine abusers (23% vs 39%, P ¼ 0.004), whereas among non-Africans most 3R/4R heterozygotes are healthy controls (10.5% vs 2.5%, P ¼ 0.04). Analysis of striatal D2R availability measured with positron emission tomography and [11C]raclopride revealed higher levels of D2R in carriers of 4R/4R genotype (Po0.01). Taken together, these results provide preliminary evidence for the role of the PER2 gene in regulating striatal D2R availability in the human brain and in vulnerability for cocaine addiction.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Biological Systems Science Division
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1624904
Journal Information:
Translational Psychiatry, Vol. 2, Issue 3; ISSN 2158-3188
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (12)

Reduced sleep duration mediates decreases in striatal D2/D3 receptor availability in cocaine abusers journal March 2016
Neural Mechanisms of Circadian Regulation of Natural and Drug Reward journal January 2017
Several clock genes polymorphisms are meaningful risk factors in the development and severity of cannabis addiction text January 2018
Several clock genes polymorphisms are meaningful risk factors in the development and severity of cannabis addiction text January 2018
NAD+ cellular redox and SIRT1 regulate the diurnal rhythms of tyrosine hydroxylase and conditioned cocaine reward journal May 2018
Circadian Rhythms and Substance Abuse: Chronobiological Considerations for the Treatment of Addiction journal February 2017
Minutes, days and years: molecular interactions among different scales of biological timing
  • Golombek, Diego A.; Bussi, Ivana L.; Agostino, Patricia V.
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Vol. 369, Issue 1637 https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0465
journal March 2014
Tandem repeats mediating genetic plasticity in health and disease journal February 2018
Circadian dysregulation in Parkinson's disease journal January 2017
Genetic variation and dopamine D2 receptor availability: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human in vivo molecular imaging studies journal March 2016
NIDA-Drug Addiction Treatment Outcome Study (DATOS) Relapse as a Function of Spirituality/Religiosity journal January 2015
Circadian Mechanisms Underlying Reward-Related Neurophysiology and Synaptic Plasticity journal January 2016

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