Genome-wide association study for circulating FGF21 in patients with alcohol use disorder: Molecular links between the SNHG16 locus and catecholamine metabolism

Abstract

GWAS for FGF21 revealed a SNHG16 genetic variant associated with FGF21 levels which are associated with recent alcohol consumption. Our data suggest that SNHG16 can regulate FGF21 concentrations and decrease COMT expression and enzyme activity which, in turn, have implications for the regulation of catecholamines. (The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00662571).