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Molecular heterosis in metamphetamine abusers |
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| Authors: | Ladislav Hosák Jiří Horáček Martin Beránek Eva Cermáková |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic;2. Prague Psychiatric Centre and Centre of Neuropsychiatric Studies, , Prague, Czech Republic;3. Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital, Hradec Králové, Prague, Czech Republic;4. Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic |
| Abstract: | Objective. The aim of our study was to assess whether the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genetic background of patients dependent on metamphetamine is related to their non-abstinence in a 1-year follow-up. Methods. We examined COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism and 1-year abstinence in a group of 31 (women N=8) Czech Caucasian metamphetamine abusers (average age, 23.8±4.0years). Results. Non-abstinence was significantly (P=0.046, Fisher's exact test) associated with the heterozygous Val/Met genotype. Conclusion. The case where subjects heterozygous for a specific genetic polymorphism show a significantly greater or lesser effect for a phenotypic trait than subjects homozygous for either allele is described as molecular heterosis in the literature. We discuss several explanations and recommendations for further research. |
| Keywords: | Genetics metamphetamine dependence COMT Val158Met polymorphism abstinence molecular heterosis |