MAO-A gene polymorphisms are associated with major depression and sleep disturbance in males

Neuroreport. 2004 Sep 15;15(13):2097-101. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200409150-00020.

Abstract

We investigated whether the genetic variants of the MAO-A gene were associated with major depression and/or the clusters of depressive symptoms. The EcoRV and the uVNTR polymorphisms were studied in a population of 191 patients with major depression and 233 control subjects. The EcoRV polymorphism was found to be associated with depression in males but not in females. Haplotype analysis revealed that one of the haplotypes (EcoRV2-uVNTR1) was significantly more frequent among male patients than male controls. Among the HAMD symptom clusters, insomnia scores were significantly higher in male patients carrying allele 2 of the EcoRV polymorphism. These data suggest that the EcoRV and uVNTR polymorphisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of major depression and associated with insomnia in depressed patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Demography
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / complications
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minisatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Monoamine Oxidase / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Sex Factors
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / complications
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / genetics*

Substances

  • Monoamine Oxidase