Peripheral blood gene-expression in heavy vs. moderate drinkers exposed to three types of personalized imagery

Alterations in stress-related gene-expression may play a role in stress-related drinking and the risk for alcohol dependence. Microarrays were used to measure changes in gene-expression in peripheral blood in non-smoking, social drinking subjects exposed to three types of personalized imagery: neutral, stressful (but not alcohol- related), and alcohol-related cues. Gene-expression was measured at baseline, immediately after, and 1 hour after stimulus presentation. Subjects were allowed to drink up to 750cc of beer in a taste-test following stimulus presentation in each imagery condition, and the amount of beer consumed was recorded. Gene-expression levels were compared in 2 groups of non-smoking subjects (n=11/group): heavy drinkers (HD, defined as regular alcohol use over the past year of at least 8 standard drinks/week for women and at least 15 standard drinks/week for men), and moderate drinkers (MD, defined as up to 7 standard drinks/week for women and 14 standard drinks/week for men).

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