NIDA study identifies genes that might help some people abstain from smoking

Findings move science closer to targeted, improved therapies
Scientists supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, have for the first time identified genes that might increase a person’s ability to abstain from smoking. The breakthrough research was conducted by Dr. George Uhl at NIDA’s Intramural Research Program and a team led by Dr. Jed Rose at the Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research at Duke University Medical Center.
The study, published in the journal BMC Genetics, available on line April 2, brings researchers a step closer toward tailoring individualized drug therapy for addiction based on an individual’s unique genetic makeup.
“This research marks the first time we’ve been able to identify genes involved in the ability to quit smoking,” says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. “It marks a movement from identifying the genetics of addiction vulnerability to identifying the genetic basis of successful abstinence. This knowledge could impact the success rate of cessation programs by helping health care providers choose the most appropriate treatment based on individual differences.”
Dr. Uhl and his colleagues performed a genome-wide analysis on the DNA of two types of nicotine-dependent individuals, one that was able to successfully quit the cigarette- smoking behavior and one that was not.
“We identified 221 genes that distinguished successful quitters from those who were unsuccessful,” says Dr. Uhl. “We know the functions of about 187 of these genes, but 34 have functions that are unknown at present. We also found that at least 62 of the genes that we had previously identified as playing roles in dependence to other drugs also contribute to nicotine dependence.”