TY  - JOUR
A1  - Blomeyer, Dorothea
A1  - Buchmann, Arlette F.
A1  - Lascorz, Jesus
A1  - Zimmermann, Ulrich S.
A1  - Esser, Günter
A1  - Desrivieres, Sylvane
A1  - Schmidt, Martin H.
A1  - Banaschewski, Tobias
A1  - Schumann, Gunter
A1  - Laucht, Manfred
T1  - Association of PER2 genotype and stressful life events with alcohol drinking in young adults
T2  - PLoS one
N2  - Background: Clock genes govern circadian rhythms and shape the effect of alcohol use on the physiological system. Exposure to severe negative life events is related to both heavy drinking and disturbed circadian rhythmicity. The aim of this study was 1) to extend previous findings suggesting an association of a haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphism of PER2 gene with drinking patterns, and 2) to examine a possible role for an interaction of this gene with life stress in hazardous drinking.
 Methods: Data were collected as part of an epidemiological cohort study on the outcome of early risk factors followed since birth. At age 19 years, 268 young adults (126 males, 142 females) were genotyped for PER2 rs56013859 and were administered a 45-day alcohol timeline follow-back interview and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Life stress was assessed as the number of severe negative life events during the past four years reported in a questionnaire and validated by interview.
 Results: Individuals with the minor G allele of rs56013859 were found to be less engaged in alcohol use, drinking at only 72% of the days compared to homozygotes for the major A allele. Moreover, among regular drinkers, a gene x environment interaction emerged (p = .020). While no effects of genotype appeared under conditions of low stress, carriers of the G allele exhibited less hazardous drinking than those homozygous for the A allele when exposed to high stress.
 Conclusions: These findings may suggest a role of the circadian rhythm gene PER2 in both the drinking patterns of young adults and in moderating the impact of severe life stress on hazardous drinking in experienced alcohol users. However, in light of the likely burden of multiple tests, the nature of the measures used and the nominal evidence of interaction, replication is needed before drawing firm conclusions.
Y1  - 2013
UR  - https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/35138
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Fransisco
ER  -