[Association between monoamine oxidase A gene and major depression in Chinese Han population].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and major depression in Chinese Han population.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction was used to genotype MAOA VNTR polymorphism. A total of 512 major depression patients and 566 normal controls were recruited in our study. These patients were also assessed using the 14-item Hamilton anxiety scale. RESULTS The allele frequency of MAOA VNTR was not significantly different between the male/female major depression patients and the normal controls. Compared with the normal controls, MAOA VNTR genotype was significantly more frequent in female major depression patients (P=0.002), but not in male patients (P=0.17). MAOA VNTR-L carrier was also associated with "fear" symptom in female patients (P=0.0056).


CONCLUSIONS
MAOA gene is associated with the major depression in Chinese Han population, especially among female patients.
Zhang
Jie-xu
JX
National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Beijing 100005, China.
Chen
Yan-bo
YB
Zhang
Ke-rang
KR
Xu
Qi
Q
Shen
Yan
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase