Gene CHRNA5
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Also known as
LNCR2, cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 5 subunitOverview
CHRNA5 (Cholinergic Receptor Nicotinic Alpha 5 Subunit) encodes a subunit of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which mediate fast synaptic transmission and are the primary targets of nicotine. The alpha-5 subunit is an accessory subunit that modifies receptor function when incorporated into receptor complexes containing other alpha and beta subunits.The rs16969968 variant (D398N) in CHRNA5 is one of the strongest genetic risk factors for nicotine dependence and lung cancer. This variant causes reduced receptor function, which paradoxically increases smoking behavior as individuals smoke more to achieve the same effect. Carriers of the risk allele smoke more cigarettes per day and have greater difficulty quitting.
Understanding your CHRNA5 genetic status has important implications for smoking cessation strategies and lung cancer risk assessment. Individuals with the risk variant may benefit from more intensive smoking cessation support and may respond differently to nicotine replacement therapy and other cessation medications.