Associations Between the Dopamine D4 Receptor and DAT1 Dopamine Transporter Genes Polymorphisms and Personality Traits in Addicted Patients

Many factors are involved in addiction. The dopaminergic system is thought to be the key element in this process. The mesolimbic dopamine system is a crucial element in the reward system. Changes in this system are thought to be leading to substance use disorders and dependence. Therefore, for our study we chose an analysis of two polymorphisms in genes (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats in DRD4 and DAT1) responsible for dopaminergic transmission, which might be implicated in the scores of personality traits measured by the NEO-FFI test. The study group consisted of 600 male volunteers—299 addicted subjects and 301 controls. Both groups were recruited by psychiatrists; in the case group addiction was diagnosed; in the controls a mental illness was excluded. In both groups the same psychometric test and genotyping by the PCR VNTR method were performed. The results were investigated by a multivariate analysis of the main effects ANOVA. In the presented study no DRD4 main effects were found for any of the analyzed traits but the DRD4 main effects approximated to the statistical significance for the extraversion scale. However, no DAT1 main effects were found for any of the analyzed traits but the DAT1 main effects approximated to the statistical significance for the agreeability scale.These associations open new possibilities for addiction research.

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The Ankyrin Repeat and Kinase Domain Containing 1 Gene Polymorphism (ANKK1 Taq1A) and Personality Traits in Addicted Subjects

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16152687 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (15) ◽

pp. 2687 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anna Grzywacz ◽

Jolanta Chmielowiec ◽

Krzysztof Chmielowiec ◽

Bożena Mroczek ◽

Jolanta Masiak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Polymerase Chain Reaction Method ◽

Kinase Domain ◽

Control Group ◽

Case Group ◽

Neo Five Factor Inventory ◽

Neuroticism Scale ◽

And Control ◽

Main Effects

The Taq1A polymorphism located in the ANKK1 gene is one of the most widely studied polymorphisms in regards to the genetics of behavior and addiction. The aim of our study was to analyze this polymorphism with regard to personality characteristics and anxiety measured by means of the Personality Inventory—(NEO Five-Factor Inventory—NEO—FFI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in polysubstance addicted subjects. The study group consisted of 600 male volunteers, including 299 addicted subjects and 301 controls. Psychiatrists recruited members for both groups. Addiction was diagnosed in the case group. In the control group mental illness was excluded. The same psychometric test and genotyping using the real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method was performed for both groups. The results were investigated by means of multivariate analysis of the main effects Multi-factor ANOVA. Significantly higher scores on the scale of STAI state and Neuroticism and Openness traits, as well as lower scores on the scales of Extraversion, Agreeability, and Conscientiousness, were found in the case group subjects, compared to the controls. Differences in frequency of genotypes and alleles of Taq1A polymorphism between the studied groups were not found. Multi-factor ANOVA of addicted subjects and control subjects and the ANKK1 Taq1A variant interaction approximated the statistical significance for the STAI state. The main effects ANOVA of both subjects’ groups were found for the STAI state and trait, the Neuroticism scale, the Extraversion scale, and the Agreeability scale. The ANKK1 Taq1A main effects approximated the statistical significance of the STAI trait. Our study shows not only differences in personality traits between addicted and non-addicted subjects, but also the possible impact of ANKK1 on given traits and on addiction itself.

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Underlying Susceptibility to Eating Disorders and Drug Abuse: Genetic and Pharmacological Aspects of Dopamine D4 Receptors

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12082288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2288 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Luca Botticelli ◽

Emanuela Micioni Di Bonaventura ◽

Fabio Del Bello ◽

Gianfabio Giorgioni ◽

Alessandro Piergentili ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Drugs Of Abuse ◽

Brain Area ◽

Variable Number ◽

Intracellular Response ◽

D4 Receptor ◽

Maladaptive Eating

The dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) has a predominant expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), brain area strictly involved in the modulation of reward processes related to both food and drug consumption. Additionally, the human DRD4 gene is characterized by a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the exon 3 and, among the polymorphic variants, the 7-repeat (7R) allele appears as a contributing factor in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying drug abuse, aberrant eating behaviors and related comorbidities. The 7R variant encodes for a receptor with a blunted intracellular response to dopamine, and carriers of this polymorphism might be more tempted to enhance dopamine levels in the brain, through the overconsumption of drugs of abuse or palatable food, considering their reinforcing properties. Moreover, the presence of this polymorphism seems to increase the susceptibility of individuals to engage maladaptive eating patterns in response to negative environmental stimuli. This review is focused on the role of DRD4 and DRD4 genetic polymorphism in these neuropsychiatric disorders in both clinical and preclinical studies. However, further research is needed to better clarify the complex DRD4 role, by using validated preclinical models and novel compounds more selective for DRD4.

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Association between the dopamine D4 receptor gene exon III variable number of tandem repeats and political attitudes in female Han Chinese

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2015.1360 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 282 (1813) ◽

pp. 20151360

Author(s):

Richard P. Ebstein ◽

Mikhail V. Monakhov ◽

Yunfeng Lu ◽

Yushi Jiang ◽

Poh San Lai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Political Attitudes ◽

Receptor Gene ◽

Variable Number ◽

Han Chinese ◽

Political Attitude ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

The Social ◽

D4 Receptor

Twin and family studies suggest that political attitudes are partially determined by an individual's genotype. The dopamine D4 receptor gene ( DRD4 ) exon III repeat region that has been extensively studied in connection with human behaviour, is a plausible candidate to contribute to individual differences in political attitudes. A first United States study provisionally identified this gene with political attitude along a liberal–conservative axis albeit contingent upon number of friends. In a large sample of 1771 Han Chinese university students in Singapore, we observed a significant main effect of association between the DRD4 exon III variable number of tandem repeats and political attitude. Subjects with two copies of the 4-repeat allele (4R/4R) were significantly more conservative. Our results provided evidence for a role of the DRD4 gene variants in contributing to individual differences in political attitude particularly in females and more generally suggested that associations between individual genes, and neurochemical pathways, contributing to traits relevant to the social sciences can be provisionally identified.

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A Variable-Number-of-Tandem-Repeats Polymorphism in the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene Affects Social Adaptation of Alcohol Use

Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/0956797610376654 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 1064-1068 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Helle Larsen ◽

Carmen S. van der Zwaluw ◽

Geertjan Overbeek ◽

Isabela Granic ◽

Barbara Franke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Receptor Gene ◽

Variable Number ◽

Social Adaptation ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

D4 Receptor

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of A variable-number-of-tandem-repeats polymorphism in the dopamine D4 receptor gene affects social adaptation of alcohol use: investigation of a gene-environment interaction.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.7325956.7585055 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Kent Berridge

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Receptor Gene ◽

Variable Number ◽

Social Adaptation ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

Gene Environment Interaction ◽

Gene Environment ◽

D4 Receptor

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Dopamine D4 receptor gene variation is associated with context-dependent attention for emotion stimuli

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1017/s1461145712000478 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 525-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tony T. Wells ◽

Christopher G. Beevers ◽

Valerie S. Knopik ◽

John E. McGeary

Keyword(s):

Tandem Repeats ◽

Mood State ◽

Receptor Gene ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Variable Number ◽

Intermediate Phenotype ◽

Dopamine D4 Receptor ◽

Gene Variation ◽

Sad Mood ◽

D4 Receptor

Abstract Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene variation has been associated with biased attention for contextually relevant information (e.g. images of cigarettes among smokers). No research has examined whether DRD4 variation is associated with biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important putative intermediate phenotype for a number of pathologies (e.g. depression and anxiety). We conducted two studies examining the relationship between the DRD4 variable number tandem repeats polymorphism and attention bias for facial expressions of emotion following a mood-state manipulation in healthy young adult samples. Study 1 demonstrated that long (i.e. seven or greater tandem repeats) DRD4 allele carriers vs. short DRD4 homozygotes had increased attention for sad facial stimuli, but only after a sad mood provocation. Study 2 demonstrated an association between the long DRD4 allele and attention for negative stimuli (sad and fear expressions) following a sad mood provocation. These studies are the first to demonstrate an association between the long DRD4 allele and biased attention for contextually cued emotion stimuli, an important cognitive mechanism thought to increase risk for affective psychopathology. Implications of these studies for vulnerability and plasticity models of psychiatric genetics are discussed.

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