Association between the dopamine D2 receptor TaqI A2 allele and low activity COMT allele with obsessive-compulsive disorder in males.
BACKGROUND
Mounting evidence suggests the involvement of the dopamine system in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder.


METHODS
The relationship of the dopamine D(2) receptor (DRD2) TaqI A, and catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) NlaIII High/Low activity polymorphism to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was examined in a sample of 150 patients and 150 controls.


RESULTS
OCD patients did not show significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency for polymorphisms investigated relative to controls. However, when the sample was stratified by gender, there was a trend to a significant predominance of the DRD2 A2A2 genotype (p=0.049), and a higher frequency of the DRD2 A2 allele (p=0.020) and low-activity COMT allele (p=0.035) in male OCD patients compared to male controls. In addition, we observed an association of the DRD2 A2A2 genotype in patients with an early onset of disease (<or=15 years) (p=0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings replicate previous reports and provide support for a potential role of the COMT and DRD2 locus in subgroup of male, early onset patients with OCD.
Denys
Damiaan
D
Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. D.A.J.P.denys@azu.nl
Van Nieuwerburgh
Filip
F
Deforce
Dieter
D
Westenberg
Herman
H
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C027046:TCGA-specific type II deoxyribonucleases