The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence is a major global problem, associated with lower quality of physical and mental health, higher mortality and an enormous familial and social cost. Prevention strategies and treatment of this condition are therefore crucial. Success of psychosocial programs and pharmacological trea...

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Autores: Adriana Díaz-Anzaldúa, Alejandro Díaz-Martínez, Leonila Rosa Díaz-Martínez
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:México
Institución:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Repositorio:Redalyc-UNAM
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:58220799009
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=58220799009
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Medicina
gene
ethanol
alcoholism
complex traits
Alcohol dependence
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spelling The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependenceAdriana Díaz-AnzaldúaAlejandro Díaz-MartínezLeonila Rosa Díaz-MartínezMedicinageneethanolalcoholismcomplex traitsAlcohol dependenceAlcohol dependence is a major global problem, associated with lower quality of physical and mental health, higher mortality and an enormous familial and social cost. Prevention strategies and treatment of this condition are therefore crucial. Success of psychosocial programs and pharmacological treatments has been frequently reported, but a better understanding of the etiology of this chronic disease is needed. For this purpose, the identification of associated factors in different populations is of great significance. It has been clearly demonstrated by twin and adoption studies and supported by animal models that both genetic and environmental components play a substancial role in alcohol dependence. Heritability estimates range from 40 to 60%, depending on the specific analyzed sample. Several coexisting genetic variants in each affected individual, rather than a single gene transmitted in a Mendelian manner, may be the rule in alcohol dependence. Similarly, many environmental factors can increase susceptibility, and because of their diversity, they do not have to be the same in every affected person. Environmental contribution may be linked to epigenetics, which refers to chemical processes that can modify gene activity without changing the sequence of DNA. In humans, the most stable epigenetic process is the union of a methyl group (one carbon atom surrounded by three hydrogen atoms) to cytosines in DNA. Other epigenetic mechanisms are modifications to nuclear proteins called histones, which alter the way DNA is packed. Moreover, non-protein coding RNAs such as microRNAs have been associated with the development of alcohol dependence. MicroRNAs could work as epigenetic intermediaries that allow ethanol to affect complex and divergent developmental mechanisms, which is added to the effect of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and other epigenetic modifications. Most reasearch points to an association between alcohol dependence and genes related with alcohol metabolism, with neurotransmission of dopamine, GABA, serotonin, glutamate, endogenous opioids, and cannabinoids, signal transduction within the mesolimbic dopamine reward system, and stress response system, among others...Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz2011info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdf0185-3325https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=58220799009Salud Mental (México) Num.2 Vol.34reponame:Redalyc-UNAMinstname:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxicoinstacron:UNAMenhttp://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=582Salud Mentalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:redalyc.org:582207990092025-09-03T18:07:42Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
title The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
spellingShingle The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
Adriana Díaz-Anzaldúa
Medicina
gene
ethanol
alcoholism
complex traits
Alcohol dependence
title_short The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
title_full The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
title_fullStr The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
title_full_unstemmed The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
title_sort The complex interplay of genetics, epigenetics, and environment in the predisposition to alcohol dependence
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Adriana Díaz-Anzaldúa
Alejandro Díaz-Martínez
Leonila Rosa Díaz-Martínez
author Adriana Díaz-Anzaldúa
author_facet Adriana Díaz-Anzaldúa
Alejandro Díaz-Martínez
Leonila Rosa Díaz-Martínez
author_role author
author2 Alejandro Díaz-Martínez
Leonila Rosa Díaz-Martínez
author2_role author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Medicina
gene
ethanol
alcoholism
complex traits
Alcohol dependence
topic Medicina
gene
ethanol
alcoholism
complex traits
Alcohol dependence
description Alcohol dependence is a major global problem, associated with lower quality of physical and mental health, higher mortality and an enormous familial and social cost. Prevention strategies and treatment of this condition are therefore crucial. Success of psychosocial programs and pharmacological treatments has been frequently reported, but a better understanding of the etiology of this chronic disease is needed. For this purpose, the identification of associated factors in different populations is of great significance. It has been clearly demonstrated by twin and adoption studies and supported by animal models that both genetic and environmental components play a substancial role in alcohol dependence. Heritability estimates range from 40 to 60%, depending on the specific analyzed sample. Several coexisting genetic variants in each affected individual, rather than a single gene transmitted in a Mendelian manner, may be the rule in alcohol dependence. Similarly, many environmental factors can increase susceptibility, and because of their diversity, they do not have to be the same in every affected person. Environmental contribution may be linked to epigenetics, which refers to chemical processes that can modify gene activity without changing the sequence of DNA. In humans, the most stable epigenetic process is the union of a methyl group (one carbon atom surrounded by three hydrogen atoms) to cytosines in DNA. Other epigenetic mechanisms are modifications to nuclear proteins called histones, which alter the way DNA is packed. Moreover, non-protein coding RNAs such as microRNAs have been associated with the development of alcohol dependence. MicroRNAs could work as epigenetic intermediaries that allow ethanol to affect complex and divergent developmental mechanisms, which is added to the effect of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and other epigenetic modifications. Most reasearch points to an association between alcohol dependence and genes related with alcohol metabolism, with neurotransmission of dopamine, GABA, serotonin, glutamate, endogenous opioids, and cannabinoids, signal transduction within the mesolimbic dopamine reward system, and stress response system, among others...
publishDate 2011
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2011
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
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dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 0185-3325
https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=58220799009
identifier_str_mv 0185-3325
url https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=58220799009
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
language_invalid_str_mv en
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=582
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv Salud Mental
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv Salud Mental
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Salud Mental (México) Num.2 Vol.34
reponame:Redalyc-UNAM
instname:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
instacron:UNAM
instname_str Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
instacron_str UNAM
institution UNAM
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