DNA methylation patterns at prodynorphin gene promoter in alcoholism

Dynorphins are critically involved in the development, maintenance and relapse of alcoholism. Alcohol-induced changes in the prodynorphin gene expression may be influenced by both gene polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications. The present study of human alcoholics aims to evaluate DNA methylation patterns in the prodynorphin gene (PDYN) promoter and to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with alcohol dependence and with altered DNA methylation. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood cells of alcoholics and healthy controls, and DNA methylation was studied in the PDYN promoter by bisulfite pyrosequencing.

Source: Alcohol - May 1, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Claudio D'Addario, Klementy Shchetynsky, Mariangela Pucci, Carlo Cifani, Agneta Gunnar, Vladana Vukojevi ć, Leonid Padyukov, Lars Terenius Source Type: research