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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

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Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research

Lack of association of genetic variants in genes of the endocannabinoid system with anorexia nervosa

Authors: Timo Dirk Müller, Kathrin Reichwald, Günter Brönner, Jeanette Kirschner, Thuy Trang Nguyen, André Scherag, Wolfgang Herzog, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Peter Lichtner, Thomas Meitinger, Matthias Platzer, Helmut Schäfer, Johannes Hebebrand, Anke Hinney

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Background

Several lines of evidence indicate that the central cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) as well as the major endocannabinoid degrading enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) are implicated in mediating the orexigenic effects of cannabinoids. The aim of this study was to analyse whether nucleotide sequence variations in the CNR1, FAAH, NAAA and MGLL genes are associated with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods

We analysed the association of a previously described (AAT)n repeat in the 3' flanking region of CNR1 as well as a total of 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) representative of regions with restricted haplotype diversity in CNR1, FAAH, NAAA or MGLL in up to 91 German AN trios (patient with AN and both biological parents) using the transmission-disequilibrium-test (TDT). One SNP was additionally analysed in an independent case-control study comprising 113 patients with AN and 178 normal weight controls. Genotyping was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, ARMS-PCR or using 3730xl capillary sequencers.

Results

The TDT revealed no evidence for association for any of the SNPs or the (AAT)n repeat with AN (all two-sided uncorrected p-values > 0.05). The lowest p-value of 0.11 was detected for the A-allele of the CNR1 SNP rs1049353 for which the transmission rate was 59% (95% confidence interval 47%...70%). Further genotyping of rs1049353 in 113 additional independent patients with AN and 178 normal weight controls could not substantiate the initial trend for association (p = 1.00).

Conclusion

As we found no evidence for an association of genetic variation in CNR1, FAAH, NAAA and MGLL with AN, we conclude that genetic variations in these genes do not play a major role in the etiology of AN in our study groups.

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Title: Lack of association of genetic variants in genes of the endocannabinoid system with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Timo Dirk Müller
Kathrin Reichwald
Günter Brönner
Jeanette Kirschner
Thuy Trang Nguyen
André Scherag
Wolfgang Herzog
Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann
Peter Lichtner
Thomas Meitinger
Matthias Platzer
Helmut Schäfer
Johannes Hebebrand
Anke Hinney
Publication date: 01-12-2008
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-2-33

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Lack of association of genetic variants in genes of the endocannabinoid system with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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