DNA hypermethylation of the alpha synuclein promoter in... : NeuroReport (original) (raw)
MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
DNA hypermethylation of the alpha synuclein promoter in patients with alcoholism
Bönsch, Dominikus; Lenz, Bernd; Kornhuber, Johannes; Bleich, StefanCA
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6-10, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
CACorresponding author: [email protected]
Received 1 November 2004; accepted 11 December 2004
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the DNA methylation pattern within the alpha synuclein promoter region is altered in intoxicated and early abstinence patients with alcoholism undergoing alcohol withdrawal. We observed a significant increase of the alpha synuclein promoter DNA methylation in patients with alcoholism which was significantly associated with their elevated homocysteine levels. No significant differences of the promoter DNA methylation within a control gene (presenilin-1) in alcoholics and controls were found. The present results hint to a gene specific DNA promoter hypermethylation within the alpha synuclein gene. Since hypermethylation of DNA is an important epigenetic factor in the down regulation of gene expression and since alpha synuclein has been linked to craving these findings may explain the reduced value of craving under alcohol drinking conditions.
© 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.