The risk-associated SNP rs11174811 is predicted to disrupt a miRNA binding site. We predicted that, if this SNP is functional and impacts expression, individuals carrying the minor, binding-site disrupting allele would exhibit higher levels of AVPR1A expression. If the human data prove consistent with the animal data (8,11), those carrying the common allele would be at higher risk for substance abuse because of decreased AVPR1A expression mediated by hsa-miR-578 and hsa-miR-526b (see Bioinformatic Evidence in Supplement 1).
