Abstract

Objective The association of MAOA-VNTR monoamine oxidase A variable number of tandem repeats genotype and child abuse on aggressive behavior among Chinese Han adolescents were examined. Methods A group of 513 (M:367, F:146) 13-18 years old Chinese adolescents were selected randomly, and the effects of child maltreatment [measured using the child trauma questionnaire (CTQ)] and aggressive behavior during adolescents′ period [assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist for Youth Self-Report (YSR)] were examined respectively. DNA were collected and MAOA-VNTR genotype were assessed via venous blood sample. Both the main effects of MAOA genotype, children′s maltreatment experience and the interaction between them were analyzed by a linear regression analysis. Results In all, 513 middle school students (367 boys, 146 girls) were analyzed in the study. The mean aggression scores were (10.13±6.67) and (9.18±6.36) for boys and girls. The low and high activity of MAOA-VNTR genotype accounts for 58.3% and 41.7% for boys, and 39.4% and 22.5% for girls respectively. The GLM model showed that there were no direct association between the MAOA genotypes with aggression scores, while a significant association between children′s maltreatment experience with aggressive behavior in adolescents′ period were found for both boys and girls (P<0.01). Some significant interactions between MAOA genotype with subtypes of maltreatment were uncovered (boys: P=0.02, P<0.01 and P=0.04 for MAOA with physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse; girls: P= 0.03 and P=0.04 for MAOA with sexual and emotional abuse). For adolescents with the low activity of MAOA-VNTR were more prone to commit aggressive behavior when suffered children′s abuse for both gender. Conclusions Aggressive behaviors among Chinese adolescents may be affected by a gene-enviornment interaction involving MAOA-VNTR and children′s abuse experience which may be differentially sensitive to the subtype of childhood maltreatment and gender. Key words: Monoamine oxidase; Polymorphism single nucleotide; Child abuse; Aggression

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