Background: Fyn tyrosine kinase is a member of the Scr family that phosphorylates the NR2A and NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptors reducing the inhibitory effects of ethanol and therefore may regulate the individual sensitivity to ethanol.
Objectives: To investigate whether there is any relationship between the polymorphism at position -93 of the Fyn kinase gene and the susceptibility to develop alcoholism.
Methods: We studied the distribution of genotypes and alleles of the polymorphism -93A/G (137346 T/C) in the 5' UTR region of the fyn gene in 207 male heavy drinkers (119 with alcohol dependence and 88 with alcohol abuse) and 100 control subjects from Castilla y León (Spain).
Results: The frequency of G allele carriers was higher in alcohol dependents than in alcohol abusers (47.9% vs 30.6%; p=0.015; OR=2.077; 95% CI 1.165-3.704).
Conclusion: Our results show that the -93G allele of Fyn kinase gene is associated with higher risk to develop alcohol dependence in Spanish men.