Alcohol consumption trends
- Alcohol consumption trends are associated with the DNA region rs4092465 near the gene ONECUT2People with the AA genotype are more likely to drink more alcohol.
- Type AA prevalence among Japanese people is 59.9%This is approximately 3.9 times higher than the world average (15.5%), indicating a high risk of alcohol dependence.
- genetic testingYou can understand your own risk tendencies and use it for appropriate drinking management and addiction prevention.
Overview Are there any of you who feel that the amount of alcohol you drink has increased? Drinking alcohol in moderation is said to have effects such as relieving stress and promoting blood circulation, but you need to be careful not to drink too much. Excessive drinking increases the risk of acute alcohol poisoning and cancer, and has a negative effect on the liver. So why do we drink too much? Temporary mental states such as work stress and daily fatigue are also involved, but recent research has revealed that a certain region near the gene ``ONECUT2'' influences the amount of alcohol consumed (alcohol intake). The more you drink, the greater your risk of alcohol dependence and organ damage. In particular, if you become addicted to alcohol, it is difficult to treat it on your own, and you end up causing trouble to those around you. Knowing what kind of genes you have and what you should be careful about will lead to consideration not only for yourself but also for those around you. If you are worried about the amount of alcohol you drink, why not take a genetic test to find out? 2. Rationale A study conducted at the British Biobank discovered a DNA region ``rs4092465'' around the gene ``ONECUT2'' that is associated with alcohol consumption. There are three genotypes in this genetic region: ``AA type,'' ``AG type,'' and ``GG type.'' In Japanese, the most common genotype is ``AA type'' at 53.3%, ``AG type'' is slightly more common at 39.4%, and ``GG type'' is the least common at 7.3%. ``AG type'' and ``GG type'' have fewer receptors for addictive hormones and tend to drink less alcohol. On the other hand, worldwide, it is known that "AG type" is the most common type at 47.8%, and "AA type" is the least common at 15.53%. Therefore, when looking at the world as a whole, it can be said that Japanese people are easily dependent on alcohol. 3. Mechanism of action The gene "ONECUT2" is located on chromosome 18 out of 24 chromosomes common to humans, is abundant in liver cells, and is closely related to the amount and frequency of alcohol intake. The expression level of this gene is regulated by the RNA molecule microRNA9 (miR9), but if there is an abnormality in the expression regulation function of miR9, the expression level of the gene "ONECUT2" will abnormally increase. This effect is seen not only in liver cells, but also in the striatum, an area of the brain, where an increase in ONECUT2 is observed. When an abnormality occurs in the striatum, the ability to suppress dependence and pleasure declines, leading to a state of dependence on drugs, alcohol, etc., and the risk of increasing alcohol consumption is thought to increase. From the above, the DNA region "rs4092465" is deeply related to increased alcohol consumption, and is a SNP that is currently being researched.
What are alcohol consumption trends?
Alcohol consumption trends are indicators of the extent to which an individual's alcohol consumption is influenced by genetic factors.A British Biobank study found that the DNA region rs4092465 near the ONECUT2 gene is associated with alcohol consumption (1).
Why do we drink too much? - Relationship between genes and alcohol consumption
Moderate drinking is said to be effective in relieving stress and promoting blood circulation, but drinking too much can seriously affect your health. In addition to temporary factors such as work stress and fatigue,Genes influence alcohol consumptionThis is revealed in the latest research.
- Gene ONECUT2:A gene located on chromosome 18 and abundantly present in liver cells
- DNA region rs4092465:SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) that exists around ONECUT2 and is directly related to alcohol consumption
- microRNA9（miR9）：RNA molecules that regulate the expression level of ONECUT2
Effect of genotype on alcohol consumption
DNA region rs4092465 hasAA type/AG type/GG typeThere are three genotypes:
| Genotype | Effect on alcohol consumption | Percentage of Japanese people | percentage of the world |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA type | Tendency to increase alcohol consumption | 59.9％ | 15.5％ |
| AG type | Fewer addictive hormone receptors and a tendency to drink less | 34.9％ | 47.7％ |
| GG type | Fewer addictive hormone receptors and a tendency to drink less | 5.1％ | 36.7％ |
The percentage of Japanese people with type AA is 59.9%, which is higher than the world average of 15.5%.Approximately 3.9 timesTherefore, from a global perspective, it can be said that this is a race with genetic characteristics that make them more likely to become dependent on alcohol.
Mechanism of action - How does the ONECUT2 gene work?
The expression level of the ONECUT2 gene is regulated by the RNA molecule microRNA9 (miR9).When there is an abnormality in the regulatory function of miR9, alcohol consumption increases through the following mechanism.
- Abnormality in the expression regulation function of miR9 → Abnormally increased expression level of ONECUT2
- Not only liver cellsstriatum of the brainBut ONECUT2 increased
- Abnormalities in the striatum → Decreased inhibition function for dependence/pleasure
- Dependency on alcohol → increased amount of alcohol consumed
Health risks from excessive drinking
Drinking too much has the following health risks:
- Acute alcohol poisoning:Heavy drinking can cause respiratory depression and impaired consciousness.
- Liver damage:Increased risk of fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis
- Increased cancer risk:Increased risk of esophageal, liver, and colorectal cancer
- Alcoholism:It is difficult to treat on your own, and it has a big impact on your social life.
Knowing your own genetic risk will help you manage your drinking appropriately and be considerate of those around you.
The relationship between genes and alcohol consumption
Relationship between DNA region rs4092465 and alcohol consumption
A large-scale study conducted at the UK Biobank (1) revealed that the DNA region rs4092465 surrounding the gene ONECUT2 is associated with alcohol consumption.
- There are three genotypes of rs4092465: AA, AG, and GG.
- AG type and GG typehave fewer receptors for addictive hormones and tend to drink less alcohol
- AA typePeople with this condition are more likely to drink more alcohol.
Genotype distribution in Japanese (rs4092465)
| Genotype | Percentage of Japanese people | percentage of the world |
|---|---|---|
| AA type | 59.9％ | 15.5％ |
| AG type | 34.9％ | 47.7％ |
| GG type | 5.1％ | 36.7％ |
Rationale for testing
Surface DNA region: Alcohol consumption trends
The gene region that most strongly influences alcohol consumption trends is rs4092465. The distribution of isomorphic genotypes in Japan is as follows.
- AA 59.9 %
- AG 34.9 %
- GG 5.1 %
Another gene region associated with alcohol consumption trends is rs732770. The distribution of isomorphic genotypes in Japan is as follows
- GG 15.9 %
- GA 47.9 %
- AA 36.1 %
Another gene region associated with alcohol consumption trends is rs1229984. The distribution of isomorphic genotypes in Japan is as follows
- TT 53.4 %
- TC 39.3 %
- CC 7.2 %
Another gene region associated with alcohol consumption trends is rs713598. The distribution of isomorphic genotypes in Japan is as follows
- CC 18.7 %
- CG 49.0 %
- GG 32.1 %
Basis for inspection
Mengzhen conducted at British Biobank A large-scale study by Liu et al. revealed that alcohol consumption trends are linked to genes. There are two types of mutations, A and G, in the DNA region rs4092465 surrounding the ONECUT2 gene, and the AG and GG types have fewer receptors for addictive hormones and tend to drink less (1).
The DNA region investigated this time
Schematic diagram of DNA map present in cells
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Related genes
| Related genes | ST8SIA3 |
|---|---|
| Related genes | AATF |
| Related genes | ADH1B |
| Related genes | MGAM |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is alcohol consumption trend?
Alcohol consumption trends are indicators of the extent to which an individual's alcohol consumption is influenced by genetic factors.The DNA region rs4092465 near the ONECUT2 gene is involved in alcohol consumption, and people with the AA genotype tend to increase their alcohol consumption (1).
Q2. What genes are involved in alcohol consumption?
The gene ONECUT2 is deeply involved in alcohol consumption.This gene, located on chromosome 18, is expressed in liver cells and the striatum of the brain, and influences addiction and pleasure inhibition. There are three genotypes of the DNA region rs4092465: AA type, AG type, and GG type (1).
Q3. Is the risk of alcohol dependence among Japanese people high worldwide?
Japanese peopleThe percentage of type AA is 59.9%This is about 3.9 times the world average (15.5%), and because there is a high proportion of people with a genotype that makes them more likely to increase alcohol consumption, the risk of alcohol dependence tends to be high from a global perspective.
Q4. What are the risks of excessive drinking?
Excessive drinking isAcute alcohol poisoning, liver cirrhosis, increased risk of cancer, alcohol dependenceleading to the onset of. Alcohol dependence is difficult to treat on your own and has a great impact on those around you, so early prevention is important.
References
- Reference link 1: 2019 Jan., Mengzhen Liu, Nature Genetics.
- Reference link 2: DNA Information on region “rs4092465” NIH
- Reference link 3: 2015 Oct., Jiangbo Zhang, Oncotarget.
- Reference link 4: 2022 Dec., Gretchen R B Saunders, Nature
- Reference link 5: 2020 Mar., Nana Matoba, Nat Hum Behav
- Reference link 6: 2020 Jan., Andrew Thompson, Sci Adv