gene makes smokers addicted at first puff

[Amby 490]

Puffing on a first cigarette is a rite of passage for many teenagers, but whether it is enjoyable may be partly down to genetics, researchers suggest.

University of Michigan scientists have identified a gene variant found more often in people who said their first cigarette produced a "buzz".

These people were much more likely to go on to become regular smokers, the journal Addiction reports.

The researchers say the finding may help development of anti-smoking drugs.

A person's decision to smoke for the first time, or carry on smoking, is not thought to be governed solely by his or her genes, but a mixture of genes, environmental factors and social pressures.

However, scientists are hoping that by cracking the genetic secrets of nicotine addiction, they could make it easier for people to wean themselves off cigarettes, or even stop them taking up the habit in the first place.

The gene in question, CHRNA5, has already been highlighted by other studies into nicotine addiction, and it has been suggested that it could increase a smoker's chance of developing lung cancer.

The Michigan research, however, suggests that it could be at work from the very first instance of exposure to nicotine.

Genetic data was obtained from 435 volunteers, some of whom were regular smokers, and some who had tried cigarettes but were not currently smokers.

They were quizzed about how they felt about their first smoking experience.

Practical uses

Regular smokers were far more likely to have the variant version of the gene and more likely to report that their first smoking experience was pleasurable.

Professor Ovide Pomerleau, who led the research, said: "It appears that for people who have a certain genetic make-up, the initial physical reaction to smoking can play a significant role in determining what happens next.

"If cigarette smoking is sustained, nicotine addiction can occur in a few days to a few months - the finding of a genetic association with pleasurable early smoking experiences may help explain how people get addicted."

Dr Marcus Munafo, from Bristol University, said that while the study was interesting, any treatments or tests based on the gene variant would be some way off.

He said: "It's interesting to see research which helps us join the dots on the whole mechanism of nicotine addiction, but in practical terms, we have, for now, to carry on doing what we are currently doing to help smokers."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7548878.stm

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I believe it. I've never become addicted to any drug I've tried. And I've tried most.

[Amby 490]

bump

I think there's a fair amount of smokers on VJ. Want to know what everyone else thinks.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

seems no one cares. oh well

[kerewin21 2]

As the article states, hopefully it will help come up with some treatments for those who are having trouble quitting. There's a lot of personal responsibility involved too, though. The first few drinks of wine or beer gives just about everyone a buzz, but not everyone goes on to become an alcoholic.

[Carlawarla 1]

I find this interesting. I was a smoker for years. Actually I quit just two months ago, and I'm just trying to see myself as a non-smoker now.

I'm adopted, and don't know if anyone genetically related to me was a smoker.

Even as a smoker I think I tend to lean towards environment rather than genetics. Maybe it's because I can remember my starting to smoke, and the peer pressure I felt. I'm a person that tries to take personal responsibility for my own behaviour that I think that more and more science leans towards behaviours as being genetic.

I guess if I had known that I was genetically predisposed to addiction to smoking, then I would have not started in the first place, but that's all in hindsight now!

Looking at the above post, hmm, it sounds confusing. lol I just think that sometimes when things can be "explained" through genetics, that people tend to say...oh, I can't help myself...it's genetics!

Edited August 14, 2008 by Carlawarla

[HAL 9000 96]

For those of you so inclined (PLoS is open access):

PLoS Genet. 2008 Jul 11;4(7):e1000125.

[Mononoke28 137]

My dad was a heavy smoker until the day he died, my step-sister is a heavy smoker as well. I smoked for 11 years and never felt I was addicted to it. One day I just decided not to smoke again and that was that. I do like it though but I never feel the need to have a cigarette. So the gene thing might be dead on.

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

That might mean that you were able to clear those nicotinic acetylcholine receptors pretty fast of the nicotine keeping them active. Which means in your case, Diana, you might have a little extra activity of liver enzymes, so their activity could be a bit higher in you when needed. In other words- when you stopped the nicotine stayed on the AChR a bit longer while the liver enzymes worked Overtime. Little by little, you cleared it fast and there was less and less nicotine available to bind to AChR in your brain... making you feel like you actually never smoked.

With smokers that are heavily addicted there is always a low level of nicotine available. That low level keeps the brain at a stage where its going to want to resupply the binding of nicotine to those AChR.

[Marilyn. 340]

hmm, this could be true...

my hubby smokes and so does both his brothers and his dad.. they have all tried to quit numerous times but keep gong back to it...

[Mononoke28 137]

That might mean that you were able to clear those nicotinic acetylcholine receptors pretty fast of the nicotine keeping them active. Which means in your case, Diana, you might have a little extra activity of liver enzymes, so their activity could be a bit higher in you when needed. In other words- when you stopped the nicotine stayed on the AChR a bit longer while the liver enzymes worked Overtime. Little by little, you cleared it fast and there was less and less nicotine available to bind to AChR in your brain... making you feel like you actually never smoked.

With smokers that are heavily addicted there is always a low level of nicotine available. That low level keeps the brain at a stage where its going to want to resupply the binding of nicotine to those AChR.

Man my liver rocks!!! I knew I had something good in there.

Diana

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I smoke.

Bren smokes.

We're non apologetic about it.

[HAL 9000 96]

I smoke.

Bren smokes.

We're non apologetic about it.

You SUCK!

[Ban Hammer 13,692]

I smoke.

Bren smokes.

We're non apologetic about it.

:dance: :dance: :dance:

[HAL 9000 96]

Hey in defense of SOME smokers out there... an occasional, and I DO MEAN occasional puff potentiates those same nicotinic AChR on your neurons to have Acetylcholine (the neurotransmitter) lingering about the synapse (the space between neurons that is all-important for nerve transmission). End result is that the receptors are activated over a longer period of time, and the transmission of the signal increases in time duration. Translation? Smoke a cig before a big test, an interview, etc, and you'll think better.