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Review
. 2011 Feb 24;69(4):618-27.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.02.015.

Genetic vulnerability and susceptibility to substance dependence

Laura Jean Bierut  1
Affiliations
Review

Genetic vulnerability and susceptibility to substance dependence

Laura Jean Bierut. Neuron. .

Abstract

The development of substance dependence requires the initiation of substance use and the conversion from experimental use to established use before development of dependence. Numerous large twin studies have indicated a significant genetic contribution to this process. Genetic studies to date have been most successful at identifying genetic factors that influence the transition from regular use to dependence. The availability of large cohort samples for nicotine and alcohol dependence has resulted in significant progress being made in understanding at least some of the genetic contributions to these addictions. Fewer studies have replicated specific genetic contributions to illicit drug use, though it is clear that there is a strong genetic component involved here as well. Substance dependence can be thought of as a pharmacogenetic illness, and most likely hundreds and more probably thousands of genetic variants will be required to fully explain the genetic input to this disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Steps in the development of dependence.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Genome-Wide Association Results for cigarettes per day Manhattan plot, indicating significance of association of all SNPs in the TAG Consortium meta-analysis for cigarettes per day. Manhattan plot show SNPs plotted on the x axis according to their position on each chromosome, and plotting on the y axis (shown as negative log10 P value). Chromosome 15 contains the strongest genetic contribution to the risk of developing nicotine dependence. Figure courtesy of TAG Consortium (2010).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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