Lack of association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence
Abstract
Dependence on methamphetamine is markedly related to the brain neurotransmitter dopamine, metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme. The main aim of the study was to ascertain whether the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism is associated with methamphetamine dependence.
One hundred and twenty-three subjects dependent on methamphetamine (women N=44), parents of sixty-seven dependent individuals, and four hundred healthy controls (women N=250) were involved into the study. We performed a population-based as well as family-based genetic association studies.
We did not find any significant association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence using the population-based or family-based design. Further research involving haplotype analysis and other dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms in large populations is needed.