MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism may modify the protective effect of ALDH2 gene against alcohol dependence in antisocial personality disorder.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Antisocial alcoholism is related to dopamine and serotonin which are catalyzed by monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). The objective of this study is to determine whether the interaction between the MAOA and the ALDH2 genes is associated with subjects with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) having alcoholism.

METHODS:

A total of 294 Han Chinese men in Taiwan including 132 ASPD with alcoholism (Antisocial ALC) and 162 without alcoholism (Antisocial Non-ALC) were recruited in this study. Alcohol dependence and ASPD were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Genotypes of ALDH2 and MAOA-uVNTR were determined using PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS:

A significant difference of ALDH2 polymorphisms (p = 3.39E-05), but not of MAOA, was found among the 2 study groups. However, only after the stratification of the MAOA-uVNTR (variable number of tandem repeat located upstream) 3-repeat, a significant association between Antisocial Non-ALC and ALDH2*1/*2 or *2/*2 genotypes was shown (p = 1.46E-05; odds ratio = 3.913); whereas stratification of MAOA-uVNTR 4-repeat revealed no association. Multiple logistic regression analysis further revealed significant interaction of MAOA and ALDH2 gene in antisocial ALC (odds ratio = 2.927; p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION:

The possible interaction of MAOA and ALDH2 gene is associated with Antisocial ALC in Han Chinese males in Taiwan. However, the protective effects of the ALDH2*2 allele against alcoholism might disappear in subjects with ASPD and carrying MAOA-uVNTR 4-repeat allele in the Han Chinese male population.

• Authors: Sheng-Yu Lee, Cheng-Yi Hahn, Jia-Fu Lee, Shiou-Lan Chen, Shih-Heng Chen, Tzung Lieh Yeh, Po-Hsiu Kuo, I Hui Lee, Yen Kuang Yang, San-Yuan Huang, Huei-Chen Ko, Ru-Band Lu
• Journal: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research (Alcohol Clin Exp Res) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 985-90 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1530-0277 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19302089 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ALDH2 protein, human
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial
• Monoamine Oxidase

Topics

• Adult
• Alcoholism (ethnology, genetics, prevention & control)
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (genetics)
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial
• Alleles
• Antisocial Personality Disorder (ethnology, genetics)
• Case-Control Studies
• Epistasis, Genetic (genetics)
• Genotype
• Humans
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Minisatellite Repeats (genetics)
• Monoamine Oxidase (genetics)
• Polymorphism, Genetic (genetics)
• Taiwan