Heavy habitual smoking is genetic

Published on March 7, 2008 7:57 AM

USA is a country where tobacco smoking is the biggest cause of death and disability. Cigarette smoking kills 400,000 people every year only in USA. American citizens are aware of the smoking hazards but continue to smoke. That’s why American scientists decided to find other remedies that will help smokers quit.

American scientists have discovered that habitual heavy smoking (smoking one pack a day) is influenced by genetics. They have shown that habitual heavy smoking is caused not only by one gene but by a lot of genes. Today “anti-smoking” patches and gums exist that help heavy smokers quit, but they are effective only for several months.

Researchers hope to use these human genes in order to develop new medicines that help people quit smoking forever.

American researchers have shown the result of a genetic study of 14,000 people, from the US and Europe, whose smoking histories were known. They discovered two genes, both producing brain proteins to which nicotine binds in generating its addicting effects.

These two proteins are named Alpha 3 and Alpha 5 nicotinic receptor subunits which contain genes that play a significant role in risk for nicotine addiction.

They were called so because these two proteins form linking sites for nicotine on brain cells with other nicotinic receptor subunits which are known to be activated during the process of dependence.

American scientists added that they can use these two proteins (alpha 3 and alpha 5 nicotinic receptor subunits) for new smoking cessation medications.

In the end of their research they have shown that an individual's chance of becoming a habitual smoker depends on his or her genetic disposition.