title: Structural correlates of COMT Val158Met polymorphism in childhood ADHD: a voxel-based morphometry study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Val158-allele of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met (rs4680) functional polymorphism has been identified as a risk factor for antisocial behaviour in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, we used voxel-based morphometry to investigate the effects of Val158Met polymorphism on grey matter (GM) volumes in a sample of 7-13-year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI and genotype data were obtained for 38 children with combined-type ADHD and 24 typically developing (TD) children. Four regions of interest were identified: striatum, cerebellum, temporal lobe and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to TD children, those with ADHD had a significant decrease of GM volume in the IFG. Volume in this region was negatively correlated with ratings of hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Furthermore, the smaller GM volume in the IFG was attributed to the presence of the Met158-allele, as only children with ADHD carrying a Met158-allele exhibited such decrease in the IFG. Children with ADHD homozygotes for the Val158-allele presented increased GM volume in the caudate nucleus when compared with TD children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first evidence of a modulation of ADHD-related GM volume alterations by Val158Met in two key regions, possibly mediating the relationship between Val158Met polymorphism and antisocial behaviour in children with ADHD.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U894, Team 1, Centre Psychiatrie et Neurosciences , Paris , France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Villemonteix
authors.forename: Stéphane A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: De Brito
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kavec
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balériaux
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Metens
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baijot
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramoz
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Septier
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorwood
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peigneux
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Massat
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase
keywords: MRI; attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT); structural imaging; voxel-based morphometry