Transmission disequilibrium and quantitative analysis of multiloci polymorphisms within the MAOA gene using family trios with antisocial alcoholism

S. Li, S. F. Stoltenberg, K. R. Bullard, R. A. Zucker, E. M. Hill, M. Burmeister

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previous studies have implicated variants of the X-chromosomal monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) in antisocial behavior and/or alcoholism. Here, we performed haplotype relative risk (HRR) and transmission disequilibrium (TDT) in 35 family trios with early onset antisocial alcoholic probands with 4 markers within the MaoA gene: a functional VNTR in the promoter region, a dinucleotide repeat in intron 2 (MaoA-CA), and two RFLPs, Fnu4HI in exon 8 and EcoRV in exon 14. There is strong linkage disequilibrium between any two loci. No allele or haplotype showed excess transmission. The extended TDT test was also not significant (P > 0.05). However, there was a deficit of transmission of the 115 bp allele of the MaoA-CA marker to affected offspring by both HRR (P = 0.04) and TDT (P = 0.03). Association tests were also conducted using the George-Elston regression method (the SAGE program ASSOC) with antisocial alcoholism symptom severity. All MaoA markers except for VNTR show significant association (EcoRV, P < 0.01, MaoA-CA, P < 0.05). While these data do not support a direct involvement of MaoA in alcoholism, they suggest that some variants of MaoA affect the number of anti-social symptoms, consistent with previous reports that males missing MaoA activity are severely impulsive and aggressive.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)628
Number of pages1
JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics
Volume105
Issue number7
StatePublished - Oct 8 2001
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics(clinical)
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Transmission disequilibrium and quantitative analysis of multiloci polymorphisms within the MAOA gene using family trios with antisocial alcoholism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this