Serotonin transporter gene and treatment of opioid-related disorders
AssigneeUniversity of Virginia Patent Foundation
InventorBankole A. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The gene responsible for encoding SERT has a functional polymorphism at the 5′-regulatory promoter region, which results in two forms, long (L) and short (S). The LL-genotype is hypothesized to play a key role in the early onset of alcohol use. The present invention discloses the differences in treatment and diagnosis based on the L or short genotypes as well as on a single nucleotide polymorphism of the SERT gene, the 3′ UTR SNP rs1042173. The present invention demonstrates the efficacy of using the drug ondansetron and similar drugs for treatment based on variations in the polymorphisms of the SERT gene as well as methods for diagnosing susceptibility to abuse of alcohol and other addiction-related diseases and disorders.
Claims19
A method of treating a patient having one or both of genotypes (a) and (b) and an addictive disease or disorder, comprising:
- (i) performing, on a biological sample from the patient having an addictive disease or disorder, a genetic diagnostic assay to detect the presence of one or both of genotypes (a) and (b) in the patient, wherein genotype (a) is the LL genotype of the functional polymorphism serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region 5-HTTLPR of gene SLC6A4;
- and genotype (b) is the TT genotype of rs1042173 of gene SLC6A4;
- and
- (ii) administering a therapeutically effective amount of ondansetron to the patient having one or both of genotypes (a) and (b);
- wherein the addictive disease or disorder is an alcohol-related disease or disorder or an opioid-related disorder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.