Association study of heroin-dependence and -287 A/G polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the relationship between heroin-dependence and -287 A/G polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genotype and allele frequencies of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene were examined in 268 heroin-dependent subjects and 177 normal controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Weak but significant difference in genotype of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene was observed between heroin-dependent subjects and controls (chi(2)=7.41, P=0.025), and genotype AA was higher in the former. The frequency of allele A of -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene was also significantly higher in heroin-dependent subjects than in the controls (chi(2)=5.69, P=0.017).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested that liability to heroin-dependence was associated with -287 A/G polymorphism of COMT gene.</p>