Association between bipolar disorder and monoamine oxidase A gene polymorphisms: results of a multicenter study

Am J Psychiatry. 2000 Jun;157(6):948-55. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.6.948.

Abstract

Objective: Although genetic factors have been implicated in the etiology of bipolar disorder, no specific gene has been conclusively identified. Given the link between abnormalities in serotonergic neurotransmission and bipolar disorder, a candidate gene association approach was applied to study the involvement of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, which codes for a catabolic enzyme of serotonin, in the susceptibility to bipolar disorder.

Method: In France and Switzerland, 272 patients with bipolar disorder and 122 healthy subjects were typed for three polymorphic markers of the MAOA gene: the MAOA-CA repeat, the MAOA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and a repeat directly adjacent to the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) locus.

Results: A significant difference in the distribution of the alleles for the MAOA-CA repeat was observed between the female bipolar patients and comparison group.

Conclusions: The results obtained in the French and Swiss population confirm findings from two studies conducted in the United Kingdom.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Bipolar Disorder / enzymology*
  • Bipolar Disorder / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monoamine Oxidase / genetics*
  • Monoamine Oxidase / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Sex Factors
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Monoamine Oxidase