AUTHOR=Vaht Mariliis , Laas Kariina , Fernàndez-Castillo Noèlia , Kurrikoff Triin , Kanarik Margus , Faraone Stephen V. , Tooding Liina-Mai , Veidebaum Toomas , Franke Barbara , Reif Andreas , Cormand Bru , Harro Jaanus 

TITLE=Variants of the Aggression-Related RBFOX1 Gene in a Population Representative Birth Cohort Study: Aggressiveness, Personality, and Alcohol Use Disorder

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.501847

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2020.501847

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Recently, <italic>RBFOX1</italic>, a gene encoding an RNA binding protein, has consistently been associated with aggressive and antisocial behavior. Several loci in the gene have been nominally associated with aggression in genome-wide association studies, the risk alleles being more frequent in the general population. We have hence examined the association of four <italic>RBFOX1</italic> single nucleotide polymorphisms, previously found related to aggressive traits, with aggressiveness, personality, and alcohol use disorder in birth cohort representative samples.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We used both birth cohorts of the Estonian Children Personality Behavior and Health Study (ECPBHS; original <italic>n</italic> = 1,238). Aggressiveness was assessed using the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire and the Lifetime History of Aggressiveness structured interview at age 25 (younger cohort) or 33 (older cohort). Big Five personality at age 25 was measured with self-reports and the lifetime occurrence of alcohol use disorder assessed with the MINI interview. <italic>RBFOX1</italic> polymorphisms rs809682, rs8062784, rs12921846, and rs6500744 were genotyped in all participants. Given the restricted size of the sample, correction for multiple comparisons was not applied.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Aggressiveness was not significantly associated with the <italic>RBFOX1</italic> genotype. <italic>RBFOX1</italic> rs8062784 was associated with neuroticism and rs809682 with extraversion. Two out of four analyzed <italic>RBFOX1</italic> variants, rs8062784 and rs12921846, were associated with the occurrence of alcohol use disorder.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> In the birth cohort representative sample of the ECPBHS, no association of <italic>RBFOX1</italic> with aggressiveness was found, but <italic>RBFOX1</italic> variants affected basic personality traits and the prevalence of alcohol use disorder. Future studies on <italic>RBFOX1</italic> should consider the moderating role of personality and alcohol use patterns in aggressiveness.</p>