Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Leiden, The Netherlands.
Brain Behav. 2012 Nov;2(6):806-13. doi: 10.1002/brb3.96. Epub 2012 Oct 5.
Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) genotypic variation has been associated with variation in aggression, especially in interaction with childhood trauma or other early adverse events. Male carriers of the low-expressing variant (MAOA-L) with childhood trauma or other early adverse events seem to be more aggressive, whereas female carriers with the high-expressing variant (MAOA-H) with childhood trauma or other early adverse events may be more aggressive. We further investigated the effects of MAOA genotype and its interaction with sex and childhood trauma or other early adverse events on aggression in a young adult sample. We hypothesized that the association between genotype, childhood trauma, and aggression would be different for men and women. We also explored whether this association is different for dispositional (trait) aggression versus aggression in the context of dysphoric mood. In all, 432 Western European students (332 women, 100 men; mean age 20.2) were genotyped for the MAOA gene. They completed measures of childhood trauma, state and trait measures of aggression-related behaviors (STAXI), and cognitive reactivity to sad mood (LEIDS-R), including aggression reactivity. Women with the MAOA-H had higher aggression reactivity scores than women with the MAOA-L. This effect was not observed in men, although the nonsignificant findings in men may be a result of low power. Effects on the STAXI were not observed, nor were there gene by environment interactions on any of the aggression measures. A protective effect of the low-expression variant in women on aggression reactivity is consistent with previous observations in adolescent girls. In females, the MAOA-H may predispose to aggression-related problems during sad mood.
单胺氧化酶 A（MAOA）基因变异与攻击行为有关，尤其是与儿童时期创伤或其他早期不良事件有关。携带低表达变异体（MAOA-L）的男性，如果有儿童时期创伤或其他早期不良事件，似乎更容易产生攻击性，而携带高表达变异体（MAOA-H）的女性如果有儿童时期创伤或其他早期不良事件，可能会更具攻击性。我们进一步研究了 MAOA 基因型及其与性别和儿童时期创伤或其他早期不良事件的相互作用对年轻成年样本中攻击性的影响。我们假设基因型、儿童时期创伤和攻击性之间的关联在男性和女性中是不同的。我们还探讨了这种关联是否因特质（特质）攻击性与抑郁情绪背景下的攻击性而有所不同。共有 432 名西欧学生（332 名女性，100 名男性；平均年龄 20.2 岁）接受了 MAOA 基因的基因分型。他们完成了儿童期创伤、与攻击性相关行为的状态和特质测量（STAXI），以及对悲伤情绪的认知反应（LEIDS-R），包括攻击性反应。携带 MAOA-H 的女性的攻击性反应得分高于携带 MAOA-L 的女性。这一效应在男性中没有观察到，尽管男性中不显著的发现可能是由于功效低所致。在任何攻击性测量指标上，都没有观察到基因与环境的相互作用。低表达变异体在女性中对攻击性反应的保护作用与以前在青春期少女中的观察结果一致。在女性中，MAOA-H 可能会使与悲伤情绪相关的攻击性相关问题更容易发生。
