GABRA2 Alcohol Dependence Risk Allele is Associated with Reduced Expression of Chromosome 4p12 GABAA Subunit Genes in Human Neural Cultures.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic variation in a region of chromosome 4p12 that includes the GABAA subunit gene GABRA2 has been reproducibly associated with alcohol dependence (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association are unknown. This study examined correlates of in vitro gene expression of the AD-associated GABRA2 rs279858*C-allele in human neural cells using an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model system.

Methods

We examined mRNA expression of chromosome 4p12 GABAA subunit genes (GABRG1, GABRA2, GABRA4, and GABRB1) in 36 human neural cell lines differentiated from iPSCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next-generation RNA sequencing. mRNA expression in adult human brain was examined using the BrainCloud and BRAINEAC data sets.

Results

SUBMITTER: Lieberman R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4558268 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature