title: Monoamine oxidase and agitation in psychiatric patients.
abstract: Subjects with schizophrenia or conduct disorder display a lifelong pattern of antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior and agitation. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an enzyme involved in the degradation of various monoamine neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and therefore has a role in various psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and pathological behaviors. Platelet MAO-B activity has been associated with psychopathy- and aggression-related personality traits, while variants of the MAOA and MAOB genes have been associated with diverse clinical phenotypes, including aggressiveness, antisocial problems and violent delinquency. The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of platelet MAO-B activity, MAOB rs1799836 polymorphism and MAOA uVNTR polymorphism with severe agitation in 363 subjects with schizophrenia and conduct disorder. The results demonstrated significant association of severe agitation and smoking, but not diagnosis or age, with platelet MAO-B activity. Higher platelet MAO-B activity was found in subjects with severe agitation compared to non-agitated subjects. Platelet MAO-B activity was not associated with MAOB rs1799836 polymorphism. These results suggested the association between increased platelet MAO-B activity and severe agitation. No significant association was found between severe agitation and MAOA uVNTR or MAOB rs1799836 polymorphism, revealing that these individual polymorphisms in MAO genes are not related to severe agitation in subjects with schizophrenia and conduct disorder. As our study included 363 homogenous Caucasian male subjects, our data showing this negative genetic association will be a useful addition to future meta-analyses.
authors: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Matea
authors: M
authors: Nikolac Perkovic
authors: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Dubravka
authors: D
authors: Svob Strac
authors: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Gordana
authors: G
authors: Nedic Erjavec
authors: Clinic for Psychiatry Vrapce, Bolnicka cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Suzana
authors: S
authors: Uzun
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Youth Zagreb, Kukuljeviceva 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Josip
authors: J
authors: Podobnik
authors: Clinic for Psychiatry Vrapce, Bolnicka cesta 32, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Kozumplik
authors: Psychiatric Hospital Dr Ivan Brbot, Popovaca, Croatia.
authors: Suzana
authors: S
authors: Vlatkovic
authors: Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: npivac@irb.hr.
authors: Nela
authors: N
authors: Pivac
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; C579458:monoamine oxidase A, human
keywords: Agitation; Conduct disorder; MAOA uVNTR polymorphism; MAOB rs1799836 polymorphism; Platelet MAO-B activity; Schizophrenia