Novel linkage disequilibrium of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the transcriptional regulatory region of μ-Opioid receptor gene in Japanese population

Abstract

μopioid receptor; single nucleotide polymorphism; μ-opioid receptor gene; linkage disequilibrium; - 172G/T; - 1748G/A. μ-Opioid receptor agonists, such as morphine, are widely applied in pain therapy clinical practice. However, the effects exerted by morphine via receptor are influenced by individual specificity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) have been reported to influence receptor expression and function. Subsequently, we analyzed SNPs frequency and linkage disequilibrium associated with OPRMI transcriptional region and 4 exons among healthy Japanese individuals. Consequently, we detected 10 SNPs (-1748G/A, -1565T/C, -1045A/G, -172G/T, -38C/A, 118A/G, ivs2+31 G/A, ivs2+691 C/G, ivs4+274 A/G, and ivs4+435 G/A). Moreover, linkage analysis revealed novel linkage between - 1748G/A and - 172G/T, which was not observed in studies performed in other nations. In contrast, SNPs frequency detected in this study was similar to previously reported results on Asians; however, linkage disequilibrium reports from different nations differed. These results possibly provide useful information for OPRMI genotyping in the Japanese population. © 2009 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.