title: Gene-Gene-Environment Interactions of Serotonin Transporter, Monoamine Oxidase A and Childhood Maltreatment Predict Aggressive Behavior in Chinese Adolescents.
abstract: Gene-environment interactions that moderate aggressive behavior have been identified independently in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA). The aim of the present study was to investigate epistasis interactions between MAOA-variable number tandem repeat (VNTR), 5-HTTlinked polymorphism (LPR) and child abuse and the effects of these on aggressive tendencies in a group of otherwise healthy adolescents. A group of 546 Chinese male adolescents completed the Child Trauma Questionnaire and Youth self-report of the Child Behavior Checklist. Buccal cells were collected for DNA analysis. The effects of childhood abuse, MAOA-VNTR, 5-HTTLPR genotypes and their interactive gene-gene-environmental effects on aggressive behavior were analyzed using a linear regression model. The effect of child maltreatment was significant, and a three-way interaction among MAOA-VNTR, 5-HTTLPR and sexual abuse (SA) relating to aggressive behaviors was identified. Chinese male adolescents with high expression of the MAOA-VNTR allele and 5-HTTLPR "SS" genotype exhibited the highest aggression tendencies with an increase in SA during childhood. The findings reported support aggression being a complex behavior involving the synergistic effects of gene-gene-environment interactions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha, China; Medical College, North West University for NationalitiesLanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Sen
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yao
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Qiao-Lian
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Medical Psychological Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Qiao
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Yao
keywords: 5-HTTLPR; MAOA-VNTR; adolescent; aggression; child abuse; gene × gene × environmental interaction