By: Anne Jorde et al
May 15, 2014
Biological Psychiatry 75:10; 790-797
Abstract Two genome-wide association studies recently showed alcohol dependence to be associated with a single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs13273672) located on a gene (GATA4) that encodes a transcription factor ofatrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). A growing body of evidence suggests that ANP might be involved in the symptomology of alcohol dependence. This study examined whether reactivity to alcohol cues in the ANP target region amygdala, a key area implicated in addictive behavior, differs depending on the GATA4genotype of a patient. We also investigated potential associations between these differences in amygdala activation and relapse behavior.
