DRD2 and ANKK1 genes associate with late-onset heroin dependence in men

Abstract

Objectives: Dopamine plays an important role in reward system of heroin dependence (HD), and dopaminergic D2 receptor (DRD2) gene is a candidate for the aetiology of HD. Ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) gene is proximal to DRD2 and may influence its expression. We explored whether DRD2 and ANKK1 associate with occurrence of HD, and whether the genetic variants influence personality traits in male patients with HD.

Methods: DRD2/ANKK1 polymorphisms were analysed in 950 unrelated Han Chinese male participants (601 HD patients and 349 healthy controls). All participants were screened using the same assessment tools and all patients met the diagnostic criteria of HD. Personality traits were assessed in 274 patients and 142 controls using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire.

Results: According to the allele, genotype and haplotype frequency analysis, we observed an association between HD and several DRD2/ANKK1 polymorphisms (rs1800497, rs1800498, rs1079597 and rs4648319); this was most notable in the late-onset HD subgroup. However, these DRD2/ANKK1 polymorphisms did not associate with specific personality traits in HD patients and controls.

Conclusions: DRD2/ANKK1 may play an important role in occurrence of late-onset HD, but does not mediate the relationship between personality traits and HD in Han Chinese male population.

Keywords:

• Biological psychiatry
• personality
• abuse
• DRD2 and ANKK1 genes
• heroin dependence

Acknowledgments

We thank the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST-102-2325-B-016-002; MOST-104-2314-B-016-012-MY3) (HSY), Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan (TSGH-C103-133, TSGH-C104-129, TSGH-C105-124, TSGH-C106-100) (HSY); and Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of National Defence, Taiwan (MAB-104-073 and MAB-106-120) (HSY) for supporting this study. These funding agencies played no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication. We like to thank Miss Mei-Chen Shih and Miss Yun-Hsin Lin for their assistance in preparing this manuscript. We also like to thank Prof. Wei-Wen Lin for his contribution of recruitment.

Statement of interest

None to declare.

Additional information

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [grant numbers MOST-102-2325-B-016-002, MOST-104-2314-B-016-012-MY3] (HSY); Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan [grant numbers TSGH-C103-133, TSGH-C104-129, TSGH-C105-124, TSGH-C106-100] (HSY); Medical Affairs Bureau, Ministry of National Defence, Taiwan [grant numbers MAB-104-073 and MAB-106-120] (HSY).