Elucidation of mu-Opioid Gene Structure: How Genetics Can Help Predict Responses to Opioids.

ABSTRACT: Opioid drugs are among the most commonly used and effective human analgesics. To date, the clinical benefits of opioid analgesics have not been fully realized due to substantial individual variations in the responses to opioids, insufficient drug dosing, and a high rate (up to 66%) of adverse events. As such, there is a substantial need to identify the genetic and molecular biological mechanisms that mediate individual responses to opioid therapy. Recent discoveries show that genetic variations in the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene locus play an essential role in inter-individual responses. The majority of genetic association studies have focused on the A118G polymorphism, which codes for a non-synonymous change in OPRM1 exon 1. In addition to the A118G polymorphism, another functional SNP

SUBMITTER: Diatchenko L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3217294 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature