This is to our knowledge the first attempt to investigate the relationship between FKBP5 genotype and alcohol misuse in the context of parent-child relationship. Huang and colleagues demonstrated greater predisposition to develop fewer withdrawal symptoms in patients with alcohol use disorder carrying the T allele [26], a factor that can lead to greater alcohol misuse. More recently, the minor allele of a highly linked SNP, rs9296158, has been associated with reward dependent personality, worse working memory, and blunted autonomic response to stress, among young adults exposed to early life adversity [63]. Binder and colleagues elegantly proved the T allele to enhance FKBP5 gene transcription by enabling the interaction between a glucocorticoid response element and the transcription start site, thus influencing the response to the glucocorticoid receptor activation triggered by early life adversity [64]. All together, these findings provide complementary evidence suggesting a heightened predisposition to stress- and emotion-driven alcohol misuse among individuals carrying the T/TT of the FKBP5 rs1360780 SNP.
