No association of CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms with alcohol dependence in Han Taiwanese population

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) gene is one of the candidate genes for alcohol dependence (AD). Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP2E1 gene (CYP2E1*1D, *5B, *6 and *1B) have been associated with AD previously in other ethnic populations. To date, only CYP2E1*5B and *6 SNPs have been investigated in relation to AD in our population. The objective of the study was to examine the genetic associations of CYP2E1 covering the four above-noted SNPs conjointly with AD in Han Taiwanese population based on single SNP analysis and haplotype-based approach. We enrolled a total of 340 patients fulfilling DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria of AD and 319 healthy controls and genotyped them for the above four SNPs of CYP2E1 gene. By comparing the differences of genotype, allele, and pertinent haplotype frequencies, we did not support a genetic association between CYP2E1 and AD in Han Taiwanese either by single allele tests or haplotype-based analyses.