Association between a functional polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A gene promoter and major depressive disorder

Thomas G. Schulze, Daniel J. Müller, Harald Krauss, Harald Scherk, Stephanie Ohlraun, Yana V. Syagailo, Christine Windemuth, Helge Neidt, Markus Grässle, Andreas Papassotiropoulos, Reinhard Heun, Markus M. Nöthen, Wolfgang Maier, Klaus Peter Lesch, Marcella Rietschel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

149 Scopus citations

Abstract

Various polymorphisms of the X-chromosomal monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) gene were investigated for association with affecrive disorders. However, none of the studied variants could consistently be associated with either major depressive or bipolar affective disorder. Recently, a positive association between panic disorder and a novel functional repeat polymorphism in the MAO-A gene promoter, with the longer alleles being more active, was reported. Since monoaminergic neurotransmission is supposed to play an important role in affective disorders, we investigated a potential association of this polymorphism with major depressive illness in a sample of 146 unrelated patients of German descent and a control group of 101 individuals with a negative life history for affective disorders. Similarly to the recent findings in panic disorder, we observed a significantly increased frequency of genotypes containing only long alleles in female patients with recurrent major depression in comparison with age- and sex-matched controls. Thus, our data suggest that an excess of high-activity MAO-A gene promoter alleles resulting in an elevated MAO-A activity is a risk factor for major depressive disorder in females. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)801-803
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Volume96
Issue number6
StatePublished - Dec 4 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Functional polymorphism
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Monoamine oxidase A gene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • General Neuroscience

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