Implication of OPRM1 A118G Polymorphism in Opioids Addicts in Pakistan: In vitro and In silico Analysis

Single nucleotide polymorphism in OPRM1 gene is associated with hedonic and reinforcing consequences of opioids. Risk and protective alleles may vary in different populations. One hundred healthy controls and 100 opioids (predominantly heroin) addicts from Pakistani origin were genotyped for A118G (N40D) polymorphism in OPRM1. Structural and functional impact of the polymorphism on encoded protein was predicted by in silico analysis. Results show significant association between homozygous GG genotype and opioid addiction in Pakistani population (p value = 0.016). In silico analysis by SIFT (TI = 0.61), PolyPhen (PISC = 0.227), PANTHER (subPSEC = −1.7171), and SNP effect predicted this SNP benign for encoded protein. Superimposing wild-type and mutated proteins by MODELLER shows no change (RMSD = 0.1) in extracellular ligand binding domain of μ-opioid receptor. However, Haploreg and RegulomeDB predicted OPRM1 gene repression by chromatin condensation and increased binding affinity of RXRA transcription factor that may reduce protein translation and hence the number of available receptors to bind with drugs, which may trigger underlying mechanisms for opioids addiction. Thus, this study outlines causal relationship between opioids addiction and genetic predisposition in Pakistani population.