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Polymorphisms in the NMDA subunit 2B are not associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal–induced seizures and delirium tremens

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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

Ethanol–inhibited glutamatergic neurotransmission has been shown to mediate pathophysiological mechanisms in the development of alcoholism, including withdrawal symptoms. NMDA–receptor 2B (NR2B) is a subunit that confers a high sensitivity to ethanol–induced inhibition. Previously we had reported a lack of association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1806201 in the NR2B gene (GRIN2B) and alcoholism. Shortly thereafter, an association between the polymorphism and early–onset alcoholism has been reported. One aim of the present study was to test whether the association between the GRIN2B polymorphism rs1806201 and early–onset alcoholism can be replicated in a larger sample. Moreover, we hypothesized that another genetic variation within GRIN2B (rs1806191) may have an effect in the etiology of alcoholism or withdrawal–related traits.

Methods

We extended our original study sample to a size of 377 patients and 464 healthy volunteers and performed a replication study, including the second GRIN2B SNP. Associations between allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of the two polymorphisms and alcoholism as well as with patients’ phenotypes were investigated.

Results

No associations were found between any of the two polymorphisms, tested individually or as haplotypes, and alcoholism, respectively withdrawal–related traits.

Conclusion

Neither the analyzed SNPs nor any of their haplotypes likely modify susceptibility to alcohol dependence or withdrawal–related phenotypes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Str. 8, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    A. Tadic MD, N. Dahmen, A. Szegedi, I. Anghelescu, Ch. Fehr, Ch. Klawe & P. Singer

  2. Dept. of Psychiatry, Charité-University Medicine Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin , Berlin, Germany

    A. Szegedi & I. Anghelescu

  3. Dept. of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany

    D. Rujescu, I. Giegling, G. Koller, U. W. Preuss, B. Bondy & M. Soyka

  4. Dept. of Neurology, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Trier, Germany

    Ch. Klawe

  5. Krankenhaus Bethanien, Johanna-Odebrecht-Stiftung, Greifswald, Germany

    U. W. Preuss

  6. Gene Mapping Center, Max-Delbrueck-Centrum, Berlin, Germany

    Th. Sander & M. R. Toliat

Authors
  1. A. Tadic MD
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  2. N. Dahmen
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  3. A. Szegedi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Tadic MD.

Additional information

The study was supported by a MAIFOR grant of the University of Mainz (AT, ND, AS) and by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF, Grant No. 01EB0140–42 (MS)

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Tadic, A., Dahmen, N., Szegedi, A. et al. Polymorphisms in the NMDA subunit 2B are not associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal–induced seizures and delirium tremens. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 255, 129–135 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0545-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0545-7

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