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Association analysis of monoamine oxidase A and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Association analysis of monoamine oxidase A and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Association analysis of monoamine oxidase A and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable disorder. Although the causes of ADHD are unknown, dopaminergic, serotonergic and nor-adrenergic pathways have been strongly implicated. Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) is involved in the degradation of all three of these neurotransmitters and therefore has been suggested as a strong candidate gene for ADHD.

Animal and human studies have implicated MAOA and 5-HT in impulsive and aggressive behavior. We therefore additionally postulated that MAOA might be associated with a subtype of ADHD where aggressive and impulsive features are especially prominent. We have tested this hypothesis by genotyping two polymorphisms (the 30-bp VNTR in the promoter and the Fnu4HI 941TG) in MAOA that are associated with altered MAOA function.

Our sample consisted of 171 British Caucasian children 6-16 years of age fulfilling DSM-III R, DSM-IV or ICD-10 criteria for ADHD/Hyperkinetic Disorder. Using case control analysis and then the TDT, no association was found between these two MAOA polymorphisms and ADHD. Case control analysis of the VNTR showed an association with a subgroup of children with comorbid conduct problems (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.09, 3.5), and TDT analysis indicated a statistical trend toward association.
Our findings highlight the importance of phenotype definition and the need for the MAOA VNTR to be further examined.
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperkinetic disorder, monoamine oxidase A, impulsive aggressive behavior, conduct disorders MAO-A, ADHD
1552-4841
84-89
Lawson, Deborah C.
c690cd38-08ca-4add-aae5-2f2fabedc793
Turic, Darko
fc7e3079-675d-4ca0-8260-b250b626196f
Langley, Kate
ed24ec9b-422b-4b00-885c-6c1eba2d1089
Pay, Helen M.
2526b1f1-d7fa-45e0-8868-3cbbf72b0e0d
Govan, Catherine F.
3d789f2b-1140-4652-8a5a-df9d3a470935
Norton, Nadine
0c0f3632-ace3-46fd-9fd0-d983265460d8
Hamshere, Marian L.
098bb481-ca91-4175-a616-604d2600a7c5
Owen, Michael J.
0e3a340c-b3a3-4631-94f6-b3f50c0d50b1
O'Donovan, Michael C.
486439bf-0852-48da-a3f5-32d78867f12d
Thapar, Anita
224b4dc1-a6ee-455a-95f9-b9a716606aa6
Lawson, Deborah C.
c690cd38-08ca-4add-aae5-2f2fabedc793
Turic, Darko
fc7e3079-675d-4ca0-8260-b250b626196f
Langley, Kate
ed24ec9b-422b-4b00-885c-6c1eba2d1089
Pay, Helen M.
2526b1f1-d7fa-45e0-8868-3cbbf72b0e0d
Govan, Catherine F.
3d789f2b-1140-4652-8a5a-df9d3a470935
Norton, Nadine
0c0f3632-ace3-46fd-9fd0-d983265460d8
Hamshere, Marian L.
098bb481-ca91-4175-a616-604d2600a7c5
Owen, Michael J.
0e3a340c-b3a3-4631-94f6-b3f50c0d50b1
O'Donovan, Michael C.
486439bf-0852-48da-a3f5-32d78867f12d
Thapar, Anita
224b4dc1-a6ee-455a-95f9-b9a716606aa6

Lawson, Deborah C., Turic, Darko, Langley, Kate, Pay, Helen M., Govan, Catherine F., Norton, Nadine, Hamshere, Marian L., Owen, Michael J., O'Donovan, Michael C. and Thapar, Anita (2002) Association analysis of monoamine oxidase A and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 116B (1), 84-89. (doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.10002).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable disorder. Although the causes of ADHD are unknown, dopaminergic, serotonergic and nor-adrenergic pathways have been strongly implicated. Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) is involved in the degradation of all three of these neurotransmitters and therefore has been suggested as a strong candidate gene for ADHD.

Animal and human studies have implicated MAOA and 5-HT in impulsive and aggressive behavior. We therefore additionally postulated that MAOA might be associated with a subtype of ADHD where aggressive and impulsive features are especially prominent. We have tested this hypothesis by genotyping two polymorphisms (the 30-bp VNTR in the promoter and the Fnu4HI 941TG) in MAOA that are associated with altered MAOA function.

Our sample consisted of 171 British Caucasian children 6-16 years of age fulfilling DSM-III R, DSM-IV or ICD-10 criteria for ADHD/Hyperkinetic Disorder. Using case control analysis and then the TDT, no association was found between these two MAOA polymorphisms and ADHD. Case control analysis of the VNTR showed an association with a subgroup of children with comorbid conduct problems (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.09, 3.5), and TDT analysis indicated a statistical trend toward association.
Our findings highlight the importance of phenotype definition and the need for the MAOA VNTR to be further examined.

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More information

Published date: 19 December 2002
Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, hyperkinetic disorder, monoamine oxidase A, impulsive aggressive behavior, conduct disorders MAO-A, ADHD

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 148335
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/148335
ISSN: 1552-4841
PURE UUID: 405a7c9c-cc6a-4e59-9d34-ec2f794d140d

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Date deposited: 08 Jul 2010 14:32
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:02

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Contributors

Author: Deborah C. Lawson
Author: Darko Turic
Author: Kate Langley
Author: Helen M. Pay
Author: Catherine F. Govan
Author: Nadine Norton
Author: Marian L. Hamshere
Author: Michael J. Owen
Author: Michael C. O'Donovan
Author: Anita Thapar

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