Lipid Levels Are Associated with a Regulatory Polymorphism of the Monoamine Oxidase-A Gene Promoter (MAOA-uVNTR)

Overview

Journal Med Sci Monit

Specialties General Medicine
Pathology

Date 2008 Jan 30

PMID 18227761

Citations 4

Authors

Beverly H Brummett

Stephen H Boyle

Ilene C Siegler

Stephan Zuchner

Allison Ashley-Koch

Redford B Williams

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene plays a vital role in the metabolism of neurotransmitters, e.g, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. A polymorphism in the promoter region (MAOA-uVNTR) affects transcriptional efficiency. Allelic variation in MAOA-uVNTR has been associated with body mass index (BMI). We extended previous work by examining relations among this polymorphism and serum lipid levels.

Material/methods: The sample consisted of 74 males enrolled in a study of caregivers for relatives with dementia. Regression models, adjusted for age, race, group status (caregiver/control), and cholesterol lowering medication (yes/no), were used to examine associations between high verses low MAOA-uVNTR activity alleles and total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, LDL/HDL ratio, triglycerides, and BMI.

Results: Higher total cholesterol (p<0.03), LDL/HDL ratio (p<0.01), triglycerides (p<0.02), and VLDL (p<0.02) were associated with low activity MAOA-uVNTR alleles. HDL and LDL were modestly related to MAOA-uVNTR activity, however, they did not reach the conventional significance level (p<0.07 and p<0.10, respectively). BMI (p<0.74) was unrelated to MAOA-uVNTR transcription.

Conclusions: The present findings suggest that MAOA-uVNTR may influence lipid levels and individuals with less active alleles are at increased health risk.

Citing Articles

Lack of association between MAOA-uVNTR variants and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Ozen F, Yegin Z, Yavlal F, Saglam Z, Koc H, Berber I Neurol Sci. 2017; 38(5):769-774.

PMID: 28181067 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-017-2836-6.

Monoamine oxidase A genotype, childhood trauma, and subclinical atherosclerosis: a twin study.

Zhao J, Bremner J, Goldberg J, Quyyumi A, Vaccarino V Psychosom Med. 2013; 75(5):471-7.

PMID: 23723362 PMC: 3739689. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e318292922a.

MAOA promoter methylation and susceptibility to carotid atherosclerosis: role of familial factors in a monozygotic twin sample.

Zhao J, Forsberg C, Goldberg J, Smith N, Vaccarino V BMC Med Genet. 2012; 13:100.

PMID: 23116433 PMC: 3532355. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-13-100.

Impact of psychological stress on the associations between apolipoprotein E variants and metabolic traits: findings in an American sample of caregivers and controls.

Iqbal Kring S, Brummett B, Barefoot J, Garrett M, Ashley-Koch A, Boyle S Psychosom Med. 2010; 72(5):427-33.

PMID: 20467002 PMC: 3625667. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181de30ad.

References

Denney R, Koch H, Craig I . Association between monoamine oxidase A activity in human male skin fibroblasts and genotype of the MAOA promoter-associated variable number tandem repeat. Hum Genet. 2000; 105(6):542-51. DOI: 10.1007/s004399900183. View

Ramos E, Meguid M, Campos A, Coelho J . Neuropeptide Y, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and monoamines in food intake regulation. Nutrition. 2005; 21(2):269-79. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2004.06.021. View

Caspi A, McClay J, Moffitt T, Mill J, Martin J, Craig I . Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science. 2002; 297(5582):851-4. DOI: 10.1126/science.1072290. View

Brummett B, Krystal A, Siegler I, Kuhn C, Surwit R, Zuchner S . Associations of a regulatory polymorphism of monoamine oxidase-A gene promoter (MAOA-uVNTR) with symptoms of depression and sleep quality. Psychosom Med. 2007; 69(5):396-401. PMC: 2777888. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31806d040b. View

Deckert J, Catalano M, Syagailo Y, Bosi M, Okladnova O, Di Bella D . Excess of high activity monoamine oxidase A gene promoter alleles in female patients with panic disorder. Hum Mol Genet. 1999; 8(4):621-4. DOI: 10.1093/hmg/8.4.621. View

Foley D, Eaves L, Wormley B, Silberg J, Maes H, Kuhn J . Childhood adversity, monoamine oxidase a genotype, and risk for conduct disorder. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004; 61(7):738-44. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.61.7.738. View

Du L, Faludi G, Palkovits M, Sotonyi P, Bakish D, Hrdina P . High activity-related allele of MAO-A gene associated with depressed suicide in males. Neuroreport. 2002; 13(9):1195-8. DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200207020-00025. View

Huang Y, Cate S, Battistuzzi C, Oquendo M, Brent D, Mann J . An association between a functional polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase a gene promoter, impulsive traits and early abuse experiences. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004; 29(8):1498-505. DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300455. View

Camarena B, Santiago H, Aguilar A, Ruvinskis E, Gonzalez-Barranco J, Nicolini H . Family-based association study between the monoamine oxidase A gene and obesity: implications for psychopharmacogenetic studies. Neuropsychobiology. 2004; 49(3):126-9. DOI: 10.1159/000076720. View

10.

Need A, Ahmadi K, Spector T, Goldstein D . Obesity is associated with genetic variants that alter dopamine availability. Ann Hum Genet. 2006; 70(Pt 3):293-303. DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2005.00228.x. View

11.

Jacob C, Muller J, Schmidt M, Hohenberger K, Gutknecht L, Reif A . Cluster B personality disorders are associated with allelic variation of monoamine oxidase A activity. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005; 30(9):1711-8. DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300737. View

12.

Brindley D, Salter A . Hormonal regulation of the hepatic low density lipoprotein receptor and the catabolism of low density lipoproteins: relationship with the secretion of very low density lipoproteins. Prog Lipid Res. 1991; 30(4):349-60. DOI: 10.1016/0163-7827(91)90003-n. View

13.

Benjamin D, Van Bakel I, Craig I . A novel expression based approach for assessing the inactivation status of human X-linked genes. Eur J Hum Genet. 2000; 8(2):103-8. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5200427. View

14.

Visentin V, Prevot D, de Saint Front V, Morin-Cussac N, Thalamas C, Galitzky J . Alteration of amine oxidase activity in the adipose tissue of obese subjects. Obes Res. 2004; 12(3):547-55. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2004.62. View

15.

Lawson D, Turic D, Langley K, Pay H, Govan C, Norton N . Association analysis of monoamine oxidase A and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2002; 116B(1):84-9. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.10002. View

16.

Stoney C, Hughes J, Kuntz K, West S, Thornton L . Cardiovascular stress responses among Asian Indian and European American women and men. Ann Behav Med. 2002; 24(2):113-21. DOI: 10.1207/S15324796ABM2402_08. View

17.

Fuemmeler B, Agurs-Collins T, McClernon F, Kollins S, Kail M, Bergen A . Genes implicated in serotonergic and dopaminergic functioning predict BMI categories. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008; 16(2):348-55. PMC: 2919156. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2007.65. View

18.

Sabol S, Hu S, Hamer D . A functional polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A gene promoter. Hum Genet. 1998; 103(3):273-9. DOI: 10.1007/s004390050816. View

19.

Kiive E, Merenakk L, Harro M, Harro J . Changes in platelet monoamine oxidase activity, cholesterol levels and hyperactive behaviour in adolescents over a period of three years. Neurosci Lett. 2005; 384(3):310-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.04.093. View

20.

Brindley D, McCann B, Niaura R, Stoney C, Suarez E . Stress and lipoprotein metabolism: modulators and mechanisms. Metabolism. 1993; 42(9 Suppl 1):3-15. DOI: 10.1016/0026-0495(93)90255-m. View