Comparing DRD2 Promoter Methylation Between Blood and Brain in Alcohol Dependence

• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad005
• Publication Date: 2023-02-07T10:59:32Z
• Authors: Wiebke Arfmann; Johannes Achenbach; Fiona Meyer-Bocke...; Phileas J Proskyn...; Adrian Groh; Marc A N Muschler; Alexander Glahn; Lars Hagemeier; Vanessa Preuss; Michael Klintschar; Helge Frieling; Mathias Rhein
• Keywords: CpG site

The dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) is substantially involved in several forms of addiction. In addition to genetic polymorphisms, epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as an important means regulation. Previously, DRD2 hypo- and hyper-methylation been observed alcohol use disorder (AUD). Blood samples are commonly used a surrogate marker alterations research, but few specific comparisons between blood brain tissue AUD exist.We post-mortem 17 deceased patients with 31 controls investigate the relationship methylation promoter.When investigating individual cytosine sites (CpG), significant differences were found nucleus accumbens hippocampus study population. Investigating binding levels revealed hypomethylated CpGs targeting mainly activating transcription factors.These findings support altered gene specimens consecutively changed reward response brain. While regions comparable, our further suggests that cannot provide meaningful perspectives on promoter