Association between norepinephrine transporter gene polymorphism and decision-making processing in patients with cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene polymorphism and decision-making processing in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 145 patients with cerebral infarction and 188 normal controls were enrolled in our study. In all subjects, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for NET-T182C/G1287A polymorphism assay, gel electrophoresis, image analysis and enzymatic reaction, gene sequencing methods were used. The relationships of NET-T182C/G1287A genotypes and alleles with decision-making processing were analyzed in patients with cerebral infarction.All participants completed six kinds of choice situational problems. Results There were significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of T182C and G1287A polymorphism in NET between the patients with cerebral infarction and control group(for NET-T182C: genotype, χ2=4.437, P=0.049, allele frequency, χ2=4.363, P=0.037, OR=0.625, 95%CI: 0.436-0.895; for NET-G1287A: genotype, χ2=8.435, P=0.038, allele frequency, χ2=2.765, P=0.036, OR=1.520, 95%CI: 1.053-2.193). The cerebral infarction patients with three NET-T182C genotypes and T/C alleles all completed six choice scenarios, and the scheme selection probability had no significant difference (all P>0.05). In high-risk and no-risk loss situation (scenario 4), the scheme selection probability had significant difference in cerebral infarction patients with NET-G1287A genotypes and G/A alleles (P 0.05). Conclusions NET-G1287A polymorphism may be associated with decision-making processing in patients with cerebral infarction. In the high-risk and no-risk loss condition, patients with GG genotype and G allele have more loss risk aversion. Key words: Brain infarction; Choice behavior; Norepinephrine plasma membrane transport proteins; Polymorphism, single nucleotide