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Kohen CB, Spychala KM, Davis-Stober CP, Piasecki TM, Bartholow BD. Retrospective self-reports of sensitivity to the effects of alcohol: Trait-like stability and concomitant changes with alcohol involvement. PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS 2023:2024-30155-001. [PMID: 38032623 PMCID: PMC11136885 DOI: 10.1037/adb0000967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lower sensitivity to the acute effects of alcohol is known to confer risk for the development of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol sensitivity, or level of response to alcohol's subjective effects, is heritable but also can change as a result of persistent alcohol exposure (i.e., acquired tolerance). Here, we examined how changes over time in four indices of alcohol involvement affected scores on two validated, retrospective self-report measures of alcohol response-the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) form and the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (ASQ)-in a sample of emerging adult drinkers. METHOD Participants (N = 173; Mage = 19.5 years; 60% assigned female at birth) completed the ASQ, SRE, and measures of alcohol use and problems at two time points separated by a median of 0.77 years (range: 0.30-2.54 years). RESULTS Multiple linear regression showed that increases in drinking over this period accounted for increases in SRE and ASQ scores (i.e., in reported numbers of drinks needed to experience subjective effects of alcohol). Increased drinking accounted for more variance in the number of drinks needed to experience lighter drinking versus heavier drinking effects, and increases in the number of drinks consumed per occasion had a larger effect than did changes in total numbers of drinks consumed, number of binge-drinking occasions, or drinking-related problems. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that both SRE and ASQ capture some stable, trait-like variability in alcohol response as well as some state-dependent, within-person variability in alcohol response acquired through increases in alcohol involvement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey B. Kohen
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri
| | | | | | - Thomas M. Piasecki
- School of Medicine and Public Health and Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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2
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Bramness JG, Skulberg KR, Skulberg A, Moe JS, Mørland J. The Self-Rated Effects of Alcohol Are Related to Presystemic Metabolism of Alcohol. Alcohol Alcohol 2023; 58:203-208. [PMID: 36715301 PMCID: PMC10008105 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS A high number of alcohol units required to feel a subjective effect of alcohol predicts future alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The subjective response to alcohol can be measured using the validated retrospective self-rated effects of alcohol (SRE) questionnaire. Few studies have investigated the specific relationship between SRE and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in an experimental setting. METHODS Twenty healthy young adult male volunteers who had experience with binge drinking, but did not have AUD, filled out the SRE-questionnaire and were served with a fixed amount of alcohol per body weight. BACs were measured throughout a 12-hour period, reaching a maximum BAC of ~0.13%. Median split of SRE-scores was utilized to compare BACs among participants with relatively high effects (low SRE) and relatively low effects (high SRE) of alcohol. RESULTS Participants reporting a relatively low SRE-score had a statistically significant higher measured BAC at all time points until alcohol was eliminated. This was especially pronounced during the first 2 hours after alcohol (P = 0.015) without a significant difference in the alcohol elimination rate being detected. CONCLUSION The study indicates that a self-ated SRE-score is related to BACs after the ingestion of a standardized amount of alcohol per body weight. Reporting a higher number of alcohol units before feeling an effect was related to a lower BAC. As the differences in BAC between relatively high and low self-rated effects appeared rapidly after intake, this could be interpreted as an effect of presystemic metabolism of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørgen G Bramness
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0213, Norway.,National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal 2381, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9037, Norway
| | - Knut R Skulberg
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum 2406, Norway
| | | | - Jenny Skumsnes Moe
- National Advisory Unit on Concurrent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal 2381, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9037, Norway
| | - Jørg Mørland
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0213, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0316, Norway
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3
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McKenna BS, Anthenelli RM, Smith TL, Schuckit MA. Low versus high level of response to alcohol affects amygdala functional connectivity during processing of emotional stimuli. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:66-76. [PMID: 35064942 PMCID: PMC8820383 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low levels of response (low LR) to alcohol predict heavy drinking and alcohol problems. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of emotion processing have shown that low LR individuals exhibit lower activation in task-related brain regions following both placebo and alcohol administration, but these studies did not examine functional brain networks that might contribute to the phenomena. The current study expands upon the earlier results by evaluating whether functional connectivity differences between the amygdala and other brain regions modulated by emotional face processing are associated with LR. Based on prior findings, we hypothesized that low LR is related to lower functional connectivity in fronto-amygdalar functional circuits, which underlie the processing of emotional stimuli. METHODS Secondary analyses were conducted on data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects, cross-over study in 108 18-to-25-year-old low and high LR sex-matched pairs without alcohol use disorder at baseline. Participants performed modified emotional faces processing tasks after receiving placebo or approximately 0.7 ml/kg of ethanol. Psychophysiological interaction analyses examined functional connectivity between left and right amygdalae and related brain circuits using LR-by-alcohol general linear models. The data included 54 sex-matched pairs with 216 fMRI scans comprising alcohol and placebo conditions. RESULTS Compared with individuals with high LR, low LR subjects demonstrated lower functional connectivity between the amygdala and the frontal lobes, insula, and parietal regions, while processing angry and happy faces. Interactions showed lower connectivity following alcohol in low LR and higher connectivity in high LR groups. CONCLUSIONS Low LR individuals demonstrated lower functional connectivity in response both to placebo and a modest dose of ethanol. Attenuated connectivity among low LR individuals when processing emotional faces may contribute to an impaired ability to recognize alcohol intoxication in social situations and to appraise angry and happy emotions irrespective of whether alcohol is consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S McKenna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, La Jolla, California, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Robert M Anthenelli
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Tom L Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Marc A Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, La Jolla, California, USA
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4
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Chebolu E, Schwandt ML, Ramchandani VA, Stangl BL, George DT, Horneffer Y, Vinson T, Vogt EL, Manor BA, Diazgranados N, Goldman D. Common Factors Underlying Diverse Responses in Alcohol Use Disorder. PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE 2021; 3:76-87. [PMID: 34746678 PMCID: PMC8552111 DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20200028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Interindividual variation in responses to alcohol is substantial, posing challenges for medical management and for understanding the biological underpinnings of alcohol use disorders (AUD). It is important to understand whether diverse alcohol responses such as sedation, which is predictive of risk and partly heritable, occur concurrently or independently from responses such as blackouts and withdrawal. We hypothesized that latent factors accounting for sources of variance in diverse alcohol response phenotypes could be identified in a large, deeply phenotyped sample of patients with AUD. Methods We factor analyzed 17 alcohol response related items from the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) in 938 individuals diagnosed with AUD via structured clinical interviews. Demographic, genetic, and clinical characteristics were tested as predictors of the latent factors by multiple indicators, multiple causes analysis. Results The final factor solution included three alcohol response factors: Physical Symptoms, Perceptual Disturbances, and Neurobiological Effects. Both gender and genetic ancestry were identified as variables influencing alcohol response. Major depressive disorder positively predicted physical symptoms and aggression negatively predicted physical symptoms. Barratt's Impulsivity Scale total score predicted the Physical and Perceptual domains. Family history, average drinks per drinking day, and negative urgency (an impulsivity measure) predicted all three domains. Conclusions Diverse items from the ADS concurrently load onto three correlated alcohol response factors rather than loading independently. Genetic ancestry and clinical characteristics predicted the severity of items that define the alcohol response factors even after accounting for degree of alcohol consumption. Co‐occurring phenotypes point towards an underlying shared physiology of diverse alcohol responses. Three common factors relevant for diverse alcohol responses are identified: Physical Symptoms, Perceptual Disturbances, and Neurobiological Effects Alcohol response items from the Alcohol Dependence Scale concurrently load onto these three factors rather than loading independently The three factors are correlated; patients presenting to clinical settings with a problem such as blackout are likely to experience several other problems either acutely or in the future
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Affiliation(s)
- Esha Chebolu
- Office of the Clinical Director Laboratory of Neurogenetics NIAAA Bethesda MD
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Emily L Vogt
- University of Michigan Medical School Ann Arbor MI
| | | | | | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director Laboratory of Neurogenetics NIAAA Bethesda MD
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5
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Schuckit MA, Smith TL, Clarke DF. Cross-sectional and prospective associations of drinking characteristics with scores from the Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol questionnaire and findings from alcohol challenges. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:2282-2293. [PMID: 34523737 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data from 2 generations of participants in the San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS) were used to compare cross-sectional and prospective relationships of 5 measures of the low level of response (low LR) to alcohol to 2 key alcohol-related outcomes. METHODS The analyses used data from 373 SDPS male probands and 158 male and female offspring of these individuals to evaluate relationships of 5 LR measures to the prior 5-year maximum drinks per occasion and the number of 11 DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria experienced. Probands' LR measures included responses to alcohol challenges administered 15 years previously, and ratings for both generations included measures of the number of standard drinks during four periods: the first five times of drinking (SRE-5), the prior three drinking months (SRE-3), the period of heaviest drinking (SRE-H), and a total average across all time frames (SRE-T). Analyses included zero-order correlations, correlations using covariates, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. RESULTS All 5 LR measures were correlated with aspects of maximum drinks and the number of AUD criteria, but the most robust results were seen for SRE-3 and maximum drinks. Correlations were less consistent for SRE-5, a measure more closely related to outcomes in the offspring. Hierarchical regression analyses supported most of these conclusions and showed that alcohol challenge-based LRs added significant information regarding maximum drinks even when evaluated with SRE values. The close correlation between SRE-H and SRE-T argues against the need for studies to include both measures. The patterns of results were similar irrespective of whether covariates were included. CONCLUSIONS There were significant correlations of maximum drinks and the number of AUD criteria with findings from prior alcohol challenges and all SRE scores. Challenges and SRE reports are related but not identical LR measures. All SRE scores, including SRE-5, offered useful information regarding subsequent drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Tom L Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Dennis F Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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6
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Parker CC, Lusk R, Saba LM. Alcohol Sensitivity as an Endophenotype of Alcohol Use Disorder: Exploring Its Translational Utility between Rodents and Humans. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E725. [PMID: 33066036 PMCID: PMC7600833 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10100725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex, chronic, relapsing disorder with multiple interacting genetic and environmental influences. Numerous studies have verified the influence of genetics on AUD, yet the underlying biological pathways remain unknown. One strategy to interrogate complex diseases is the use of endophenotypes, which deconstruct current diagnostic categories into component traits that may be more amenable to genetic research. In this review, we explore how an endophenotype such as sensitivity to alcohol can be used in conjunction with rodent models to provide mechanistic insights into AUD. We evaluate three alcohol sensitivity endophenotypes (stimulation, intoxication, and aversion) for their translatability across human and rodent research by examining the underlying neurobiology and its relationship to consumption and AUD. We show examples in which results gleaned from rodents are successfully integrated with information from human studies to gain insight in the genetic underpinnings of AUD and AUD-related endophenotypes. Finally, we identify areas for future translational research that could greatly expand our knowledge of the biological and molecular aspects of the transition to AUD with the broad hope of finding better ways to treat this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa C. Parker
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
| | - Ryan Lusk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Laura M. Saba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
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7
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Mathies LD, Lindsay JH, Handal AP, Blackwell GG, Davies AG, Bettinger JC. SWI/SNF complexes act through CBP-1 histone acetyltransferase to regulate acute functional tolerance to alcohol. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:646. [PMID: 32957927 PMCID: PMC7507291 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07059-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling genes are required for normal acute responses to alcohol in C. elegans and are associated with alcohol use disorder in two human populations. In an effort to discover the downstream genes that are mediating this effect, we identified SWI/SNF-regulated genes in C. elegans. Results To identify SWI/SNF-regulated genes in adults, we compared mRNA expression in wild type and swsn-1(os22ts) worms under conditions that produce inactive swsn-1 in mature cells. To identify SWI/SNF-regulated genes in neurons, we compared gene expression in swsn-9(ok1354) null mutant worms that harbor a neuronal rescue or a control construct. RNA sequencing was performed to an average depth of 25 million reads per sample using 50-base, paired-end reads. We found that 6813 transcripts were significantly differentially expressed between swsn-1(os22ts) mutants and wild-type worms and 2412 transcripts were significantly differentially expressed between swsn-9(ok1354) mutants and swsn-9(ok1354) mutants with neuronal rescue. We examined the intersection between these two datasets and identified 603 genes that were differentially expressed in the same direction in both comparisons; we defined these as SWI/SNF-regulated genes in neurons and in adults. Among the differentially expressed genes was cbp-1, a C. elegans homolog of the mammalian CBP/p300 family of histone acetyltransferases. CBP has been implicated in the epigenetic regulation in response to alcohol in animal models and a polymorphism in the human CBP gene, CREBBP, has been associated with alcohol-related phenotypes. We found that cbp-1 is required for the development of acute functional tolerance to alcohol in C. elegans. Conclusions We identified 603 transcripts that were regulated by two different SWI/SNF complex subunits in adults and in neurons. The SWI/SNF-regulated genes were highly enriched for genes involved in membrane rafts, suggesting an important role for this membrane microdomain in the acute alcohol response. Among the differentially expressed genes was cbp-1; CBP-1 homologs have been implicated in alcohol responses across phyla and we found that C. elegans cbp-1 was required for the acute alcohol response in worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura D Mathies
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| | - Jonathan H Lindsay
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Amal P Handal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - GinaMari G Blackwell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Andrew G Davies
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Jill C Bettinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980613, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
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8
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Schmitt RE, Messick MR, Shell BC, Dunbar EK, Fang H, Shelton KL, Venton BJ, Pletcher SD, Grotewiel M. Dietary yeast influences ethanol sedation in Drosophila via serotonergic neuron function. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12779. [PMID: 31169340 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Abuse of alcohol is a major clinical problem with far-reaching health consequences. Understanding the environmental and genetic factors that contribute to alcohol-related behaviors is a potential gateway for developing novel therapeutic approaches for patients that abuse the drug. To this end, we have used Drosophila melanogaster as a model to investigate the effect of diet, an environmental factor, on ethanol sedation. Providing flies with diets high in yeast, a routinely used component of fly media, increased their resistance to ethanol sedation. The yeast-induced resistance to ethanol sedation occurred in several different genetic backgrounds, was observed in males and females, was elicited by yeast from different sources, was readily reversible, and was associated with increased nutrient intake as well as decreased internal ethanol levels. Inhibition of serotonergic neuron function using multiple independent genetic manipulations blocked the effect of yeast supplementation on ethanol sedation, nutrient intake, and internal ethanol levels. Our results demonstrate that yeast is a critical dietary component that influences ethanol sedation in flies and that serotonergic signaling is required for the effect of dietary yeast on nutrient intake, ethanol uptake/elimination, and ethanol sedation. Our studies establish the fly as a model for diet-induced changes in ethanol sedation and raise the possibility that serotonin might mediate the effect of diet on alcohol-related behavior in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E. Schmitt
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
| | - Monica R. Messick
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
| | - Brandon C. Shell
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
| | - Ellyn K. Dunbar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
| | - Huai‐Fang Fang
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience Graduate Program University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Keith L. Shelton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
| | - B. Jill Venton
- Department of Chemistry and Neuroscience Graduate Program University of Virginia Charlottesville VA USA
| | - Scott D. Pletcher
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Geriatrics Center University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
| | - Mike Grotewiel
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond VA USA
- Virginia Commonwealth University Alcohol Research Center Richmond VA USA
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9
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Lai D, Wetherill L, Kapoor M, Johnson EC, Schwandt M, Ramchandani VA, Goldman D, Joslyn G, Rao X, Liu Y, Farris S, Mayfield RD, Dick D, Hesselbrock V, Kramer J, McCutcheon VV, Nurnberger J, Tischfield J, Goate A, Edenberg HJ, Porjesz B, Agrawal A, Foroud T, Schuckit M. Genome-wide association studies of the self-rating of effects of ethanol (SRE). Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12800. [PMID: 31270906 PMCID: PMC6940552 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The level of response (LR) to alcohol as measured with the Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol Retrospective Questionnaire (SRE) evaluates the number of standard drinks usually required for up to four effects. The need for a higher number of drinks for effects is genetically influenced and predicts higher risks for heavy drinking and alcohol problems. We conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) in the African-American (COGA-AA, N = 1527 from 309 families) and European-American (COGA-EA, N = 4723 from 956 families) subsamples of the Collaborative Studies on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) for two SRE scores: SRE-T (average of first five times of drinking, the period of heaviest drinking, and the most recent 3 months of consumption) and SRE-5 (the first five times of drinking). We then meta-analyzed the two COGA subsamples (COGA-AA + EA). Both SRE-T and SRE-5 were modestly heritable (h2 : 21%-31%) and genetically correlated with alcohol dependence (AD) and DSM-IV AD criterion count (rg : 0.35-0.76). Genome-wide significant associations were observed (SRE-T: chromosomes 6, rs140154945, COGA-EA P = 3.30E-08 and 11, rs10647170, COGA-AA+EA P = 3.53E-09; SRE-5: chromosome13, rs4770359, COGA-AA P = 2.92E-08). Chromosome 11 was replicated in an EA dataset from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism intramural program. In silico functional analyses and RNA expression analyses suggest that the chromosome 6 locus is an eQTL for KIF25. Polygenic risk scores derived using the COGA SRE-T and SRE-5 GWAS predicted 0.47% to 2.48% of variances in AD and DSM-IV AD criterion count in independent datasets. This study highlights the genetic contribution of alcohol response phenotypes to the etiology of alcohol use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbing Lai
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Manav Kapoor
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at
Mt. Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Emma C. Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Melanie Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD
| | - Vijay A. Ramchandani
- Section on Human Psychopharmacology, Division of
Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD
| | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD
| | - Geoff Joslyn
- Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, Emeryville,
CA
| | - Xi Rao
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Sean Farris
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - R. Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
| | - Danielle Dick
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth
University, Richmond, VA
| | | | - John Kramer
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy Carver College of
Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Vivia V. McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - John Nurnberger
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of
Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jay Tischfield
- Department of Genetics and the Human Genetics Institute
of New Jersey, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Alison Goate
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at
Mt. Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Howard J. Edenberg
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Lab, Department of
Psychiatry, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn,
NY
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of
Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Tatiana Foroud
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana
University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Marc Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San
Diego Medical School, San Diego, CA
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10
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Schuckit MA, Smith TL, Rana B, Mendoza LA, Clarke D, Kawamura M. Performance of the Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire Across Sexes and Generations. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1384-1390. [PMID: 30933364 PMCID: PMC6602840 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low level of responses (low LRs) to alcohol established using the Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire are genetically influenced phenotypes related to heavy drinking and alcohol problems. To date, most studies using SREs focused on scores for the number of drinks needed for effects across the first 5 times of drinking (SRE-5), and few evaluated scores that also included the prior 3 months and heaviest drinking periods (SRE-T). This paper evaluates characteristics of SRE-5 and SRE-T within and across generations. METHODS Data were extracted from 407 participants across 2 generations of 107 families in the San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS). Pearson's product-moment correlations for SRE-5 and SRE-T were determined across first-degree relatives both within and across generations and sexes, as well as correlations of each measure to maximum drinking quantities and alcohol problems. RESULTS Responding to 4 hypotheses, first the analyses demonstrated significant within-generation positive correlations for both SRE measures across brother-brother and sister-sister pairs as well as cross-generation correlations for fathers and sons, although correlations for mothers and daughters were not robust. Second, both SRE-5 and SRE-T correlated with maximum drinks and alcohol problems for both sexes and both generations. Third, within parental and offspring generations SRE-T correlated more robustly than SRE-5 to maximum drinks and alcohol problems. Fourth, across generations SRE values for sons were more closely related to drinking quantities and problems than for their fathers, but the mother-daughter SRE relationships to adverse alcohol characteristics were not different. CONCLUSIONS Both the SRE-5 and SRE-T offered useful information about propensities toward heavier drinking and alcohol problems in SDPS families. Correlations with adverse alcohol outcomes were greater for the more broad-based SRE-T, but both scores appeared to be genetically influenced and continue to operate in a robust manner in both generations of these families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A. Schuckit
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
| | - Tom L. Smith
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
| | - Brinda Rana
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
| | - Lee Ann Mendoza
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
| | - Dennis Clarke
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
| | - Mari Kawamura
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Dr, Suite B-218, La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
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11
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Johnson EC, St Pierre CL, Meyers JL, Aliev F, McCutcheon VV, Lai D, Dick DM, Goate AM, Kramer J, Kuperman S, Nurnberger JI, Schuckit MA, Porjesz B, Edenberg HJ, Bucholz KK, Agrawal A. The Genetic Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Aspects of Problem Drinking in an Ascertained Sample. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:1113-1125. [PMID: 30994927 PMCID: PMC6560626 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomewide association studies (GWAS) have begun to identify loci related to alcohol consumption, but little is known about whether this genetic propensity overlaps with specific indices of problem drinking in ascertained samples. METHODS In 6,731 European Americans who had been exposed to alcohol, we examined whether polygenic risk scores (PRS) from a GWAS of weekly alcohol consumption in the UK Biobank predicted variance in 6 alcohol-related phenotypes: alcohol use, maximum drinks within 24 hours (MAXD), total score on the Self-Rating of the Effects of Ethanol Questionnaire (SRE-T), DSM-IV alcohol dependence (DSM4AD), DSM-5 alcohol use disorder symptom counts (DSM5AUDSX), and reduction/cessation of problematic drinking. We also examined the extent to which an single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1229984) in ADH1B, which is strongly associated with both alcohol consumption and dependence, contributed to the polygenic association with these phenotypes and whether PRS interacted with sex, age, or family history of alcoholism to predict alcohol-related outcomes. We performed mixed-effect regression analyses, with family membership and recruitment site included as random effects, as well as survival modeling of age of onset of DSM4AD. RESULTS PRS for alcohol consumption significantly predicted variance in 5 of the 6 outcomes: alcohol use (Δmarginal R2 = 1.39%, Δ area under the curve [AUC] = 0.011), DSM4AD (Δmarginal R2 = 0.56%; ΔAUC = 0.003), DSM5AUDSX (Δmarginal R2 = 0.49%), MAXD (Δmarginal R2 = 0.31%), and SRE-T (Δmarginal R2 = 0.22%). PRS were also associated with onset of DSM4AD (hazard ratio = 1.11, p = 2.08e-5). The inclusion of rs1229984 attenuated the effects of the alcohol consumption PRS, particularly for DSM4AD and DSM5AUDSX, but the PRS continued to exert an independent effect for all 5 alcohol measures (Δmarginal R2 after controlling for ADH1B = 0.14 to 1.22%). Interactions between PRS and sex, age, or family history were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS Genetic propensity for typical alcohol consumption was associated with alcohol use and was also associated with 4 of the additional 5 outcomes, though the variance explained in this sample was modest. Future GWAS that focus on the multifaceted nature of AUD, which goes beyond consumption, might reveal additional information regarding the polygenic underpinnings of problem drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Celine L St Pierre
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Jacquelyn L Meyers
- Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Fazil Aliev
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Department of Actuarial and Risk Management, Faculty of Business, Karabuk University, Karabük, Turkey
| | - Vivia V McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Dongbing Lai
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Psychology and Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Alison M Goate
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - John Kramer
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Samuel Kuperman
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - John I Nurnberger
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Marc A Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Bernice Porjesz
- Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
| | - Howard J Edenberg
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Kathleen K Bucholz
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
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12
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Schuckit MA. A Critical Review of Methods and Results in the Search for Genetic Contributors to Alcohol Sensitivity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:822-835. [PMID: 29623680 PMCID: PMC5916326 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Attributes of alcohol sensitivity are present before alcohol use disorders (AUDs) develop, they predict those adverse alcohol outcomes, are familial in nature, and many are heritable. Whether measured by alcohol challenges or retrospective reports of numbers of drinks required for effects, alcohol sensitivity reflects multiple phenotypes, including low levels of alcohol response and alcohol-related stimulation. Identification of genes that contribute to alcohol sensitivity could help identify individuals carrying risks for AUDs through their alcohol responses for whom early intervention might mitigate their vulnerability. Such genes could also improve understanding of biological underpinnings of AUDs, which could lead to new treatment approaches. However, the existing literature points to a wide range of genetic mechanisms that might contribute to alcohol responses, and few such genetic findings have been widely replicated. This critical review describes the potential impact of the diverse methods used to study sensitivity on the diversity of genetic findings that have been reported, places the genetic variants mentioned in the literature into broader categories rather than isolated results, and offers suggestions regarding how to advance the field by interpreting findings in light of the methods used to select research subjects and to measure alcohol sensitivity. To date, the most promising results have been for GABA, glutamate, opioid, dopamine, serotonin, and cholinergic system genes. The more gene variants that can be identified as contributors to sensitivity the better future gene screening platforms or polygenic scores are likely to be.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Schuckit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
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13
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Otto JM, Gizer IR, Deak JD, Fleming KA, Bartholow BD. A cis-eQTL in OPRM1 is Associated with Subjective Response to Alcohol and Alcohol Use. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017; 41:929-938. [PMID: 28273335 PMCID: PMC5404990 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A functional polymorphism within the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene, rs1799971 (A118G), previously has been associated with measures of alcohol use and sensitivity to its effects, but findings have been inconclusive. A recent study suggested that a second nearby variant within OPRM1, rs3778150, is robustly associated with heroin dependence and fully explained a smaller observed association with rs1799971. Given evidence that the rs3778150-C allele is associated with decreased OPRM1 expression levels in the human brain, the current study sought to test the hypothesis that rs3778150 represents a causal variant within OPRM1 that increases risk for a variety of alcohol use phenotypes. METHODS Participants with genotype and phenotype data from a larger experimental study (N = 152) were assessed on measures of subjective response to alcohol and alcohol use. Measures included (i) the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol and the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire, (ii) the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) and ratings of subjective intoxication, and (iii) average number of drinks per week in the past month. RESULTS Compared to rs3778150-T homozygous individuals, carriers of the rs3778150-C allele exhibited significantly lower retrospective self-report levels of alcohol sensitivity. Carriers of the rs3778150-C allele also exhibited lower levels of BAES alcohol-related stimulation during an alcohol challenge and reported higher levels of drinking in the last 30 days. With the exception of lower levels of BAES alcohol-related sedation, the rs1799971 variant did not show consistent significant association with any of the alcohol phenotypes in the presence of rs3778150. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that rs3778150 may be causally related to alcohol use phenotypes, and could potentially account for previously observed associations of rs1799971 with substance use phenotypes. Future studies may investigate potential causal relations among genetic variants in OPRM1, subjective response to alcohol, and drinking phenotypes to further delineate the effects of rs3778150.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Otto
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Ian R Gizer
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Joseph D Deak
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Kimberly A Fleming
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Bruce D Bartholow
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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14
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Webb BT, Edwards AC, Wolen AR, Salvatore JE, Aliev F, Riley BP, Sun C, Williamson VS, Kitchens JN, Pedersen K, Adkins A, Cooke ME, Savage JE, Neale Z, Cho SB, Dick DM, Kendler KS. Molecular Genetic Influences on Normative and Problematic Alcohol Use in a Population-Based Sample of College Students. Front Genet 2017; 8:30. [PMID: 28360924 PMCID: PMC5350109 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Genetic factors impact alcohol use behaviors and these factors may become increasingly evident during emerging adulthood. Examination of the effects of individual variants as well as aggregate genetic variation can clarify mechanisms underlying risk. Methods: We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in an ethnically diverse sample of college students for three quantitative outcomes including typical monthly alcohol consumption, alcohol problems, and maximum number of drinks in 24 h. Heritability based on common genetic variants (h2SNP) was assessed. We also evaluated whether risk variants in aggregate were associated with alcohol use outcomes in an independent sample of young adults. Results: Two genome-wide significant markers were observed: rs11201929 in GRID1 for maximum drinks in 24 h, with supportive evidence across all ancestry groups; and rs73317305 in SAMD12 (alcohol problems), tested only in the African ancestry group. The h2SNP estimate was 0.19 (SE = 0.11) for consumption, and was non-significant for other outcomes. Genome-wide polygenic scores were significantly associated with alcohol outcomes in an independent sample. Conclusions: These results robustly identify genetic risk for alcohol use outcomes at the variant level and in aggregate. We confirm prior evidence that genetic variation in GRID1 impacts alcohol use, and identify novel loci of interest for multiple alcohol outcomes in emerging adults. These findings indicate that genetic variation influencing normative and problematic alcohol use is, to some extent, convergent across ancestry groups. Studying college populations represents a promising avenue by which to obtain large, diverse samples for gene identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley T Webb
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Alexis C Edwards
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Aaron R Wolen
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jessica E Salvatore
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Fazil Aliev
- Department of African-American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Faculty of Business, Karabuk UniversityKarabuk, Turkey; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Brien P Riley
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Cuie Sun
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Vernell S Williamson
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA, USA
| | - James N Kitchens
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Kimberly Pedersen
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Amy Adkins
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Megan E Cooke
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Jeanne E Savage
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Zoe Neale
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Seung B Cho
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of African-American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
| | - Kenneth S Kendler
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, USA
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15
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Davies AG, Blackwell GG, Raabe RC, Bettinger JC. An Assay for Measuring the Effects of Ethanol on the Locomotion Speed of Caenorhabditis elegans. J Vis Exp 2015:52681. [PMID: 25938273 PMCID: PMC4476067 DOI: 10.3791/52681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorders are a significant public health concern, for which there are few effective treatment strategies. One difficulty that has delayed the development of more effective treatments is the relative lack of understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the effects of ethanol on behavior. The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), provides a useful model in which to generate and test hypotheses about the molecular effects of ethanol. Here, we describe an assay that has been developed and used to examine the roles of particular genes and environmental factors in behavioral responses to ethanol, in which locomotion is the behavioral output. Ethanol dose-dependently causes an acute depression of crawling on an agar surface. The effects are dynamic; animals exposed to a high concentration demonstrate an initial strong depression of crawling, referred to here as initial sensitivity, and then partially recover locomotion speed despite the continued presence of the drug. This ethanol-induced behavioral plasticity is referred to here as the development of acute functional tolerance. This assay has been used to demonstrate that these two phenotypes are distinct and genetically separable. The straightforward locomotion assay described here is suitable for examining the effects of both genetic and environmental manipulations on these acute behavioral responses to ethanol in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Davies
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University; VCU Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - GinaMari G Blackwell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University; VCU Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Richard C Raabe
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University
| | - Jill C Bettinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University; VCU Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University;
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16
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SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling regulates alcohol response behaviors in Caenorhabditis elegans and is associated with alcohol dependence in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:3032-7. [PMID: 25713357 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413451112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol abuse is a widespread and serious problem. Understanding the factors that influence the likelihood of abuse is important for the development of effective therapies. There are both genetic and environmental influences on the development of abuse, but it has been difficult to identify specific liability factors, in part because of both the complex genetic architecture of liability and the influences of environmental stimuli on the expression of that genetic liability. Epigenetic modification of gene expression can underlie both genetic and environmentally sensitive variation in expression, and epigenetic regulation has been implicated in the progression to addiction. Here, we identify a role for the switching defective/sucrose nonfermenting (SWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex in regulating the behavioral response to alcohol in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that SWI/SNF components are required in adults for the normal behavioral response to ethanol and that different SWI/SNF complexes regulate different aspects of the acute response to ethanol. We showed that the SWI/SNF subunits SWSN-9 and SWSN-7 are required in neurons and muscle for the development of acute functional tolerance to ethanol. Examination of the members of the SWI/SNF complex for association with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in a human population identified allelic variation in a member of the SWI/SNF complex, suggesting that variation in the regulation of SWI/SNF targets may influence the propensity to develop abuse disorders. Together, these data strongly implicate the chromatin remodeling associated with SWI/SNF complex members in the behavioral responses to alcohol across phyla.
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17
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Salvatore JE, Gottesman II, Dick DM. Endophenotypes for Alcohol Use Disorder: An Update on the Field. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2015; 2:76-90. [PMID: 26236574 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-015-0046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The endophenotype concept was first proposed as a strategy to use (purportedly) genetically simpler phenotypes in gene identification studies for psychiatric disorders, and is distinct from the closely related concept of intermediate phenotypes. In the area of alcohol use disorder (AUD) research, two candidate endophenotypes have produced replicable genetic associations: level of response to alcohol and neurophysiology markers (e.g., event-related oscillations and event-related potentials). Additional candidate endophenotypes from the cognitive, sensory, and neuroimaging literatures show promise, although more evidence is needed to fully evaluate their potential utility. Translational approaches to AUD endophenotypes have helped characterize the underlying neurobiology and genetics of AUD endophenotypes and identified relevant pharmacological interventions. Future research that capitalizes on the polygenic nature of endophenotypes and emphasizes endophenotypes that may change across development will enhance the usefulness of this concept to understand the genetically-influenced pathways toward AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Salvatore
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126
| | - Irving I Gottesman
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, N231 Elliott Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126
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18
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A novel cholinergic action of alcohol and the development of tolerance to that effect in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2014; 199:135-49. [PMID: 25342716 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.114.171884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the genes and mechanisms involved in acute alcohol responses has the potential to allow us to predict an individual's predisposition to developing an alcohol use disorder. To better understand the molecular pathways involved in the activating effects of alcohol and the acute functional tolerance that can develop to such effects, we characterized a novel ethanol-induced hypercontraction response displayed by Caenorhabditis elegans. We compared body size of animals prior to and during ethanol treatment and showed that acute exposure to ethanol produced a concentration-dependent decrease in size followed by recovery to their untreated size by 40 min despite continuous treatment. An increase in cholinergic signaling, leading to muscle hypercontraction, is implicated in this effect because pretreatment with mecamylamine, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist, blocked ethanol-induced hypercontraction, as did mutations causing defects in cholinergic signaling (cha-1 and unc-17). Analysis of mutations affecting specific subunits of nAChRs excluded a role for the ACR-2R, the ACR-16R, and the levamisole-sensitive AChR and indicated that this excitation effect is dependent on an uncharacterized nAChR that contains the UNC-63 α-subunit. We performed a forward genetic screen and identified eg200, a mutation that affects a conserved glycine in EAT-6, the α-subunit of the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase. The eat-6(eg200) mutant fails to develop tolerance to ethanol-induced hypercontraction and remains contracted for at least 3 hr of continuous ethanol exposure. These data suggest that cholinergic signaling through a specific α-subunit-containing nAChR is involved in ethanol-induced excitation and that tolerance to this ethanol effect is modulated by Na(+)/K(+) ATPase function.
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19
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Raabe RC, Mathies LD, Davies AG, Bettinger JC. The omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid is required for normal alcohol response behaviors in C. elegans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105999. [PMID: 25162400 PMCID: PMC4146551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol addiction is a widespread societal problem, for which there are few treatments. There are significant genetic and environmental influences on abuse liability, and understanding these factors will be important for the identification of susceptible individuals and the development of effective pharmacotherapies. In humans, the level of response to alcohol is strongly predictive of subsequent alcohol abuse. Level of response is a combination of counteracting responses to alcohol, the level of sensitivity to the drug and the degree to which tolerance develops during the drug exposure, called acute functional tolerance. We use the simple and well-characterized nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans to model the acute behavioral effects of ethanol to identify genetic and environmental factors that influence level of response to ethanol. Given the strong molecular conservation between the neurobiological machinery of worms and humans, cellular-level effects of ethanol are likely to be conserved. Increasingly, variation in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels has been implicated in complex neurobiological phenotypes in humans, and we recently found that fatty acid levels modify ethanol responses in worms. Here, we report that 1) eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, is required for the development of acute functional tolerance, 2) dietary supplementation of eicosapentaenoic acid is sufficient for acute tolerance, and 3) dietary eicosapentaenoic acid can alter the wild-type response to ethanol. These results suggest that genetic variation influencing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels may be important abuse liability loci, and that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids may be an important environmental modulator of the behavioral response to ethanol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard C. Raabe
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Laura D. Mathies
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Andrew G. Davies
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Jill C. Bettinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- VCU-Alcohol Research Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Matsushita S, Higuchi S. Genetic differences in response to alcohol. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2014; 125:617-27. [PMID: 25307600 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-62619-6.00036-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The level of response to alcohol, which reflects individual differences in sensitivity to the pharmacologic effects of alcohol, is considered to be an important endophenotype of alcohol use disorder (AUD). By comparing monozygotic and dizygotic twins, the heritability of the level of response to alcohol has been estimated to be 60%. Many genes have been implicated as potential contributors toward heavy drinking, alcohol-related problems, and AUD through a low level of response to alcohol, each with a small effect. Identified are genes for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, serotonin transporter, opioid receptor, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, but the most well-characterized genes that have a strong impact on the level of response to alcohol are those for alcohol-metabolizing enzymes. Although two genetic variations in alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases, which have been the most intensively studied, exist almost exclusively in Asian populations, studies on the effect of genetic variations in alcohol-metabolizing enzymes on the response to alcohol are gradually expanding in non-Asian populations. In this chapter, we focus on genetic studies in humans. After analyzing the overall influence of genetic factors on the response to alcohol, we explore individual genes that may influence the response to alcohol. Lastly, we review studies examining the effects of genetic variations in alcohol-metabolizing enzymes on the level of response to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachio Matsushita
- National Hospital Organization, Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Susumu Higuchi
- National Hospital Organization, Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Kanagawa, Japan
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21
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Enoch MA. Genetic influences on response to alcohol and response to pharmacotherapies for alcoholism. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2013; 123:17-24. [PMID: 24220019 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Although very many individuals drink alcohol at safe levels, a significant proportion escalates their consumption with addiction as the end result. Alcoholism is a common, moderately heritable, psychiatric disorder that is accompanied by considerable morbidity and mortality. Variation in clinical presentation suggests inter-individual variation in mechanisms of vulnerability including genetic risk factors. The development of addiction is likely to involve numerous functional genetic variants of small effects. The first part of this review will focus on genetic factors underlying inter-individual variability in response to alcohol consumption, including variants in alcohol metabolizing genes that produce an aversive response (the flushing syndrome) and variants that predict the level of subjective and physiological response to alcohol. The second part of this review will report on genetic variants that identify subgroups of alcoholics who are more likely to respond to pharmacotherapy to reduce levels of drinking or maintain abstinence. Genetic analyses of the level of response to alcohol, particularly of the functional OPRM1 A118G polymorphism and 5' and 3' functional polymorphisms in SLC6A4, are beginning to provide insights into the etiology of alcoholism and also genotype-stratified subgroup responses to naltrexone and SSRIs/ondansetron respectively. Because of large inter-ethnic variation in allele frequencies, the relevance of these functional polymorphisms will vary between ethnic groups. However there are relatively few published studies in this field, particularly with large sample sizes in pharmacogenetic studies, therefore it is premature to draw any conclusions at this stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Anne Enoch
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States.
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22
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Schuckit MA, Smith TL. Stability of scores and correlations with drinking behaviors over 15 years for the Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire. Drug Alcohol Depend 2013; 128:194-9. [PMID: 22980675 PMCID: PMC3537846 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The low level of response (LR) to alcohol is an endophenotype that predicts future heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders (AUDs). LR can be measured by laboratory-based alcohol challenges or by the retrospective Self-Report of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire. This paper reports the relationships among these two measures and how each related to both recent and future drinking quantities and problems across 15 years in 235 men. METHODS Probands from the San Diego Prospective Study (SDPS) participated in alcohol challenges to determine their LR at age 20, and subsequently at ages 35, 40, 45 and 50 filled out an SRE regarding the number of standard drinks needed for up to four effects early in life (SRE5) and across early, recent, and heaviest drinking life epochs (SRET). Changes in SRE scores across time were evaluated with ANOVAs and Pearson correlations were used to evaluate how SRE5, SRET and earlier alcohol challenge-based LRs related to prior five-year drinking histories and future alcohol involvement. RESULTS While SRE scores decreased 9% over the 15 years, the relationships between SRE values with prior five-year drinking parameters and with future alcohol intake and problems remained robust, and even improved with advancing age. A similar pattern was seen for correlations between SRE and alcohol challenge-based LRs 15-30 years previously. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol challenge and SRE-based LRs related to each other, to alcohol use patterns, and to future alcohol problems across age 35-50 in the men studied here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Schuckit
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Psychiatry, 8950 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite B-218, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Scott DM. Magnitude of the problem of drinking alcohol on college campuses, commentary on "Structuring a college alcohol prevention program on the low level of response to alcohol model: a pilot model". Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2012; 36:1126-30. [PMID: 22591168 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this commentary is to discuss the significance of the study entitled, "Structuring a College Alcohol Prevention Program on the Low Level of Response to Alcohol Model: A Pilot Model" by Schuckit and colleagues (2012) published in this issue of the Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The work by Schuckit and colleagues emphasizes the importance of personalizing an alcohol prevention program for college students. METHODS This pilot model is the result of over 30 years of clinical translational research on an individual's level of response to alcohol. The prevention program is efficient, simple, safe, cost-effective and self-directed. RESULTS The results indicate the computerized intervention was associated with decreases in drinking overall and students with a low level of response to alcohol showed greater decreases when the prevention program is personalized to focus on how level of response is affected by peer influence, alcohol expectancies, and stress management. It concludes that college students with a low level of response to alcohol will benefit from a prevention program that is personalized to this well documented endophenotype. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide the foundation for developing future longitudinal studies of the proposed prevention program with a larger sample size on diverse campuses. In addition, as mentioned in the Discussion section, future studies could also evaluate the effectiveness of other easily measured clinical endophenotypes known to be associated with alcohol use such as impulsivity, negative effect, and maximum number of drinks per occasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M Scott
- Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics (DMS), Howard University Alcohol Research Center, Washington, DC 20059, USA.
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Abstract
Stress has long been suggested to be an important correlate of uncontrolled drinking and relapse. An important hormonal response system to stress-the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-may be involved in this process, particularly stress hormones known as glucocorticoids and primarily cortisol. The actions of this hormone system normally are tightly regulated to ensure that the body can respond quickly to stressful events and return to a normal state just as rapidly. The main determinants of HPA axis activity are genetic background, early-life environment, and current life stress. Alterations in HPA axis regulation are associated with problematic alcohol use and dependence; however, the nature of this dysregulation appears to vary with respect to stage of alcohol dependence. Much of this research has focused specifically on the role of cortisol in the risk for, development of, and relapse to chronic alcohol use. These studies found that cortisol can interact with the brain's reward system, which may contribute to alcohol's reinforcing effects. Cortisol also can influence a person's cognitive processes, promoting habit-based learning, which may contribute to habit formation and risk of relapse. Finally, cortisol levels during abstinence may be useful clinical indicators of relapse vulnerability in alcohol-dependent people.
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