Alcohol dependence gene mutation discovered

Wednesday November 27th, 2013

British researchers may have found a new gene linked to alcohol abuse, it was announced yesterday.

Dr Quentin Anstee of Newcastle University, UK, and her team explain that alcohol dependence is "a common, complex and debilitating disorder with genetic and environmental influences".

They carried out tests on mice to investigate the gene known as Gabrb1. This gene was altered in the mice, in such a way that the mutations led to a preference for alcohol over drinking water.

In the journal Nature Communications yesterday (26 November) the team state: "We developed a mouse model exhibiting strong heritable preference for ethanol resulting from a dominant mutation (called L285R) in Gabrb1."

The mutation causes changes to the neurotransmitter GABA and alters the activity of the nucleus accumbens, a brain region linked to feelings of reward after drinking alcohol. Mice with this mutation tend to mice work harder to obtain alcohol, and are more sensitive to alcohol intoxication.

The authors conclude: "Our results provide a new and important link between Gabrb1function and increased alcohol consumption that could underlie some forms of alcohol abuse."

Dr Anstee said: "It's amazing to think that a small change in the code for just one gene can have such profound effects on complex behaviours like alcohol consumption. We are continuing our work to establish whether the gene has a similar influence in humans, though we know that in people alcoholism is much more complicated as environmental factors come into play. But there is the real potential for this to guide development of better treatments for alcoholism in the future."

Anstee, Q. M. et al. Mutations in the Gabrb1 gene promote alcohol consumption through increased tonic inhibition. Nature Communications 26 November 2013 doi: 10.1038/ncomms3816

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Drug & Alcohol Abuse | Genetics | UK News

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