Cross-ancestry meta-analysis of opioid use disorder uncovers novel loci with predominant effects in brain regions associated with addiction.
Rachel L KemberRachel Vickers-SmithHeng XuSylvanus ToikumoMaria NiarchouHang ZhouEmily E HartwellRichard C CristChristopher T Rentschnull nullLea K DavisAmy C JusticeSandra Sanchez-RoigeKyle M KampmanJoshua C GrayHenry R KranzlerPublished in: Nature neuroscience (2022)
Despite an estimated heritability of ~50%, genome-wide association studies of opioid use disorder (OUD) have revealed few genome-wide significant loci. We conducted a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of OUD in the Million Veteran Program (N = 425,944). In addition to known exonic variants in OPRM1 and FURIN, we identified intronic variants in RABEPK, FBXW4, NCAM1 and KCNN1. A meta-analysis including other datasets identified a locus in TSNARE1. In total, we identified 14 loci for OUD, 12 of which are novel. Significant genetic correlations were identified for 127 traits, including psychiatric disorders and other substance use-related traits. The only significantly enriched cell-type group was CNS, with gene expression enrichment in brain regions previously associated with substance use disorders. These findings increase our understanding of the biological basis of OUD and provide further evidence that it is a brain disease, which may help to reduce stigma and inform efforts to address the opioid epidemic.
Keyphrases
- genome wide
- copy number
- genome wide association
- dna methylation
- genome wide association study
- gene expression
- resting state
- white matter
- systematic review
- cerebral ischemia
- quality improvement
- case control
- randomized controlled trial
- multiple sclerosis
- mental health
- hiv aids
- mental illness
- pain management
- social support