Performance in working memory and attentional control is associated with the rs2180619 SNP in the CNR1 gene
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
Authors: Ruiz-Contreras, A. E.; Carrillo-Sanchez, K.; Ortega-Mora, I.; Barrera-Tlapa, M. A.; Roman-Lopez, T. V.; Rosas-Escobar, C. B.; Flores-Barrera, L.; Caballero-Sanchez, U.; Munoz-Torres, Z.; Romero-Hidalgo, S.; Hernandez-Morales, S.; Gonzalez-Barrios, J. A.; Vadillo-Ortega, F.; Mendez-Diaz, M.; Aguilar-Roblero, R.; Prospero-Garcia, O.
Abstract
Individual differences in cognitive performance are partly dependent, on genetic polymporhisms. One of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the CNR1 gene, which codes for cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R), is the rs2180619, located in a regulatory region of this gene (6q14-q15). The alleles of the rs2180619 are A>G; the G allele has been associated with addiction and high levels of anxiety (when the G allele interacts with the SS genotype of the 5-HTTLPR gene). However, GG genotype is observed also in healthy subjects. Considering G allele as risk for psychopathological conditions', it is possible that GG healthy subjects do not be addicted or anxious, but would have reduced performance, compared to AA subjects, in attentional control and working memory processing. One hundred and sixty-four healthy young Mexican-Mestizo subjects (100 women and 64, men; mean age: 22.86 years, SD=2.72) participated in this study, solving a task where attentional control and working memory were required. GG subjects, compared to AA subjects showed: (1) a general lower performance in the task (P=0.02); (2) lower performance only when a high load of information was held in working memory (P=0.02); and (3) a higher vulnerability to distractors (P=0.03). Our results suggest that, although the performance of GG subjects was at normal levels, a lower efficiency of the endocannabinoid system, probably due to a lowered expression of CB1R, produced a reduction in the performance of these subjects when attentional control and working memory processing is challenged.
Are endocannabinoid type 1 receptor gene (CNR1) polymorphisms associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal Polish women?
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBESITY
Authors: Milewicz, A.; Tworowska-Bardzinska, U.; Jedrzejuk, D.; Lwow, F.; Dunajska, K.; Laczmanski, L.; Pawlak, M.
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether genetic variation at the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CNR1) locus could have an effect on adiposity, fat distribution and obesity-related metabolic disorders in Polish postmenopausal women. Design and Subjects: The A3813G (rs12720071), G1422A (rs1049353), A4895G (rs806368) and rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674 and rs2023239 single-nucleotide polymorphisms of CNR1 were genotyped in 348 randomly selected postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years recruited from the Wroclaw city population. Measurements: CNR1 genotypes, anthropometric measures (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and body fat distribution by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and metabolic parameters (glucose, lipid profile and Fasting Insulin Resistance Index for insulin resistance) were determined. Results: The 3813G allele was not significantly associated with higher body mass, BMI, WC, total fat or fat percentage, but was associated with higher android fat deposit (2971.78 +/- 1655.08 vs 2472.64 +/- 1300.53, P = 0.007) and percentage of android fat (37.59 +/- 8.45 vs 35.66 +/- 7.63, P = 0.062). No associations for the G1422A, A4895G, rs806381, rs10485170, rs6454674 and rs2023239 variants were observed. Conclusions: There is an association of the variants of CNR1 with obesity-related phenotypes in Polish postmenopausal women. As cannabinoid receptor type 1 is a drug target for obesity, pharmacogenetic receptor gene analysis of obesity treatment by endocannabinoid blockade may be of interest to identify the best responders. International Journal of Obesity (2011) 35, 373-377; doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.145; published online 14 September 2010