Synergistic Effects of COMT and TPH2 on Social Cognition

Abstract

Whether genetic factors affect social cognition, particularly emotion management, requires elucidation. This study investigates whether social cognition varies with genetic variations of COMT and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2), which modulate dopamine and serotonin neurotransmissions respectively, and thereby emotion regulation. NIMH-recommended "managing emotions branch and 2 subtasks" of MSCEIT and six neurocognition domains, and genotypes of COMT Val158Met and TPH2 G703T were measured in 150 Han-Chinese healthy adults. Subjects carrying the M allele (M group) of COMT exceeded Val/Val homozygotes (V group) in managing emotions branch (p = 0.032) and emotional relation subtask (p = 0.037). TPH2 T/T homozygotes (T group) excelled those with the G allele (G group) in emotional management subtask (p = 0.025). Subjects with M+T variation surpassed the other 3 groups (M+G, V+T and V+G) in managing emotion branch (p = 0.002), emotional relation subtask (p = 0.023), and emotional management subtask (p = 0.002). The findings remained after control for gender, age, education, and neurocognitive functions. Synergistically, the effect size of COMT-TPH2 combination surmounted the sum of separate effect sizes of COMT and TPH2. The findings suggest that genetic variations of COMT and TPH2 have synergistic effects on social cognition in the general population.

Mesocorticolimbic dopamine functioning in primary psychopathy: A source of within-group heterogeneity

“…In addition, Val-homozygotes performed worse on different aspects of social cognition such as openness to feelings and the ability to modulate feelings in oneself and others so as to promote personal understanding and growth (Lin et al, 2013). Also, since DA activity in the mPFC crucially contributes to self-awareness and meta-cognition (Joensson et al, 2015), Met-carriers might show higher levels of self-consciousness in social situations.…”

Effect of the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase Val 158Met polymorphism on theory of mind in obesity

“…It is well known that prefrontal cortex function critically depends on dopaminergic neurotransmission, and several studies have addressed the issue of whether variations in dopamine-related genes affect social cognition (Gong, Liu, Li, & Zhou, 2013;Kempton et al, 2009;Lackner, Sabbagh, Hallinan, Liu, & Holden, 2012;Lin et al, 2013;Xia et al, 2012). Regarding COMT, a few studies have evaluated its impact on theory of mind, providing inconsistent results (Bassett et al, 2007;Lackner et al, 2012;Xia et al, 2012).…”

“…Another study found an effect of several serotonin and dopamine‐related polymorphisms on theory of mind only in subjects with major depression, but not in healthy controls, although no effect of the COMT Val 158 Met functional polymorphism was observed (Zahavi et al, ). In healthy subjects, the Met allele of the COMT has been related to a better performance in social cognition (Lin et al, ), although other studies have not found any effect of the COMT Val 158 Met polymorphism on theory of mind (Lackner, Bowman, & Sabbagh, ; Xia, Wu, & Su, ; Zahavi et al, ). Although differences in the samples and tasks used in these studies could contribute to explain the disparity observed in the results, it could also be that the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms is more evident in samples with a compromised neurotransmission (Zahavi et al, ).…”

Recent advances in the genetics of emotion regulation: a review

“…Carriers of the Val allele showed increased left amygdala activity in response to fearful/angry stimuli [14] and were more likely to exhibit low distress tolerance than those homologous for the Met allele [10]. Conversely, the Met allele has been associated with increased emotional management and relation [35], as well as increased self-reported emotion regulation efficacy [13]. However, these findings are not consistent across all studies; Lonsdorf et al .…”