Changes in the Expression of DNA Methylation Related Genes in Leukocytes of Persons with Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Abstract

Background and objectives. Though numerous studies have shown that the dysregulation of the epigenetic control is involved in disease manifestation, limited data is available on the transcriptional activity of DNA methylation related genes in alcohol and drug addiction. With regard to this, in this study we analyzed the expression levels of genes involved in DNA methylation, including DNMT1, DNMT3a, MeCP2, MBD1, MBD2, MBD3 and MBD4, in blood samples of alcohol and drug dependent persons in comparison to healthy abstainers.

Keywords

• dna methylation
• gene expression
• mrna
• alcohol dependence
• drug dependence