Comparative Study of Prevalence of BDNF and COMT Gene Polymorphisms in Amphetamine and Opioids' Consumers

Abstract

Amphetamine and opiate usage is a perilous concern, which are broadly used and both activate the dopamine system in the midbrain, a neurotransmitter system critically implicated in cognitive functions. The COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) is an important enzyme that metabolizes catechol neurotransmitters such as dopamine and regulates the level of dopamine as well. Here, we investigated association between the Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680) of COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene with amphetamine and opioid addiction in Iranian-Azeri patients. The aim of the current study was to study the relationship of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of rs4680 (Val158Met) of the COMT gene with the risk of drug dependence in a Northwest Iranian population. Materials and methods: This case-control study was conducted with 150 cases (133 men and 17 women) and 100 controls (74 men and 26 women). Purposeful sampling was performed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Demographic questionnaire, clinical interview and DNA and genotype extraction techniques were used to collect data. Data were analyzed at the level of P <0.05 using Chi-square, Yu Mann-Whitney and independent t-test. Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, age of onset of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked, occupation, educational status and history of hyperactivity, and in terms of height, weight, place of residence, marital status, birth order, military status, the history of the disease is not significantly different from each other. No significant differences were observed in genotype and allele frequencies of the COMT rs4680 and BDNF gene polymorphism between cases and controls.