An association between a functional polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase a gene promoter, impulsive traits and early abuse experiences.
Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) activity is altered in mood disorders and lower activity associated with aggressive behavior. The gene has a functional polymorphism with a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in the upstream regulatory region (MAOA-uVNTR). In this study, we examined possible associations between the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism and mood disorders, suicidal behavior, aggression/impulsivity, and effects of reported childhood abuse. In total, 663 unrelated subjects with a psychiatric disorder and 104 healthy volunteers were genotyped for the 30 base pair functional VNTR. A novel repeat variation was identified. No statistically significant associations were found between this functional MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism and mood disorders or suicide attempts. However, the lower expression allele was associated with a history of abuse before 15 years of age in male subjects and with higher impulsivity in males but not females. Our results suggest that the lower expression of the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism is related to a history of early abuse and may sensitize males, but not females, to the effects of early abuse experiences on impulsive traits in adulthood. The polymorphism may be a marker for impulsivity that in turn may contribute to the risk for abuse. This trait could then be further aggravated by abuse.
Huang
Yung-Yu
YY
Department of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Cate
Sarah P
SP
Battistuzzi
Cristina
C
Oquendo
Maria A
MA
Brent
David
D
Mann
J John
JJ
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D004247:DNA; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase