ADHD diagnosis may influence the association between polymorphisms in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes and tobacco smoking

Neuromolecular Med. 2014 Jun;16(2):389-97. doi: 10.1007/s12017-013-8286-2. Epub 2013 Dec 28.

Abstract

Polymorphisms in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 gene cluster have been shown to be involved in tobacco smoking susceptibility. Considering that attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) not only increases the risk but may also influence the molecular mechanisms of tobacco smoking, we analyzed the association between polymorphisms in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes and tobacco smoking among individuals with or without ADHD. The sample included 1,118 subjects divided into four groups according to smoking status and ADHD diagnosis. Our results demonstrate that the minor alleles of two polymorphisms (rs578776 and rs3743078) in the CHRNA3 gene are associated with an increased risk of tobacco smoking only among patients with ADHD. These alleles have been shown in previous studies to be protective factors for smoking in subjects without ADHD. These findings add to existing evidence that ADHD may exert an important modifying effect on the genetic risk of smoking and should be considered in tobacco smoking association studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / genetics*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Europe / ethnology
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / genetics*
  • Risk
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • CHRNA5 protein, human
  • CHRNB4 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • nicotinic receptor subunit alpha3