Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes synaptic remodeling and modulates the function of other neurotransmitters. It also plays a role in the reward response to many drugs, including heroin. To identify genetic variants associated with heroin dependence, we compared four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs13306221, rs6265, rs56164415, and rs16917204) of the BDNF gene in 487 subjects with heroin dependence and 492 healthy individuals. The analysis revealed the G allele of rs6265 was significantly more common in heroin-dependent subjects than in the healthy controls (P=0.001 after Bonferroni correction). Among heroin-dependent individuals, the onset of dependence was significantly earlier in individuals with GG or GA genotypes compared to AA individuals (P<0.01). Additionally, we found that the G allele of rs13306221 was significantly more frequent in heroin-dependent subjects than in controls (P=0.005 after Bonferroni correction). These findings support a role of BDNF rs6265 and rs13306221 polymorphisms in heroin dependence and may guide future studies to identify other genetic risk factors for heroin dependence.
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