Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Genomic analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene sequence variations and its association with D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol dependence in addicts

Maryam Javed¹ , Ali Raza¹, Asif Nadeem¹, Tahir Yaqub², Muhammad Danish Ahmed¹

¹Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology; ²Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

For correspondence:- Maryam Javed Email: maryam.javed@uvas.edu.pk Tel:+923474462376

Accepted: 27 February 2020 Published: 31 March 2020

Citation: Javed M, Raza A, Nadeem A, Yaqub T, Ahmed MD. Genomic analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene sequence variations and its association with D-9-tetrahydrocannabinol dependence in addicts. Trop J Pharm Res 2020; 19(3):475-481 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v19i3.3

© 2020 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To elucidate the genetic basis of drug addiction by conducting a genetic analysis of TH (tyrosine hydroxylase) gene and the novel polymorphisms that might help in understanding addiction and its molecular basis.

Methods: Forty-two subjects were recruited into three groups for this study. DNA was isolated from the individuals. PCR amplification of TH gene was carried out and amplicons were sequenced. Genomic characterization of TH gene provided five polymorphic loci – TH 1, TH 2, TH 3, TH 4 and TH 5 which were found among all the groups.

Results: According to Shannon’s diversity index, the studied population was between 0.0762 and 0.6032. Heterozygosity index depicted that TH 1 locus was less heterozygous (0.3288), followed by TH 5 (0.3152). TH 1 (0.1462) was the least heterozygous. Genotypic analysis predicted that among these five loci, TH 4 (p = 0.039898) and TH 2 (p = 0.851716) were non-significant (p > 0.05) and obeyed Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) law. There are few genetic changes in the studied population that can statistically be associated with drug addiction. Still, their genotypic distribution in the gene pool was very low.

Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, drug addiction in the studied population is more likely a social issue rather than a genetic one.

Keywords: Tyrosine hydroxylase, SNP, Drug dependence