MAOA genotype, family relations and sexual abuse in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate MAOA gene-environment (G*E) interactions in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption. In the county of Västmanland, Sweden, all 17-18-year-old students were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire and provide a saliva sample during class hours. A total of 2263 students completed the questionnaire (77.4%) and a saliva sample was provided by 2131 participants. Failed MAOA u-variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) genotype analyses and internal non-responses left 851 boys and 735 girls (total n=1586) to be investigated. Alcohol use disorder identification test was used to measure hazardous alcohol consumption. MAOA u-VNTR was used to measure biological risk in interaction with poor family relations and experience of sexual abuse. The model was also adjusted for non-independent socioeconomic variables, separated parents, type of housing and parental unemployment. Results showed that the MAOA u-VNTR, in interaction with psychosocial risk factors, such as the quality of family relations and sexual abuse, was related to high alcohol consumption among adolescents. Girls, carrying the long MAOA u-VNTR variant showed a higher risk of being high alcohol consumers, whereas among boys, the short allele was related to higher alcohol consumption. The present study supports the hypothesis that there is a relation between MAOA u-VNTR and alcohol consumption and that this relation is modulated by environmental factors. Furthermore, the present study also supports the hypothesis that there is a sex difference in the G*E interaction.

G × E interaction and neurodevelopment I. Focus on maltreatment

“…Similar results were found by Aslund et al (2011) and Nilsson et al (2011) (Table 1) examining, respectively, delinquent behaviour and high alcohol consumption. MAOA polymorphism was also found to enhance depressive symptoms but only among extensively maltreated youth (i.e.…”

Serotonin transporter genotype by environment: Studies on alcohol use and misuse in non-human and human primates

“…However, a recent study showed increased mRNA expression in lymphoblasts of patients with a history of alcohol dependence [43]. Knocking out Maoa in early development has a strong impact on serotonin levels, which may normalize with age [66], and a similar effect that dissipates with age may also occur with 5-HTT.…”

“…Further, DNA methylation at selected cytosine-phosphateguanine sites (CpG) of the 5-HTTLPR was reported to be higher among females than males [42]. Only three studies analyzed GxE interactions separately among males and females and two found a sex difference [33,34,36], as has been shown for other genetic markers [43]. Ethnicity is another important factor as differences have been reported in the frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR genotype and in alcohol use.…”

Genetics and epigenetics of alcohol dependence

“…Gene-environment interactions have been reported for the serotonin transporter ( 5-HTT ) [32–35], the dopamine receptor ( DRD2 )/ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 ( ANKK1 ) [36–38], catechol-O-methyltransferase ( COMT ) [39, 40], monoamine oxidase ( MAOA ) [41–43], GABA A receptor ( GABRA2 ) [44], corticotrophin releasing hormone receptor 1 ( CRHR1 ) [45–48]. …”