AUTHOR=Wang Meiping , Li Hailei , Deater-Deckard Kirby , Zhang Wenxin 

TITLE=Interacting Effect of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) and Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA) Gene Polymorphisms, and Stressful Life Events on Aggressive Behavior in Chinese Male Adolescents

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01079

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01079

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>Numerous studies have demonstrated that both catechol-<italic>O</italic>-methyltransferase (<italic>COMT</italic>) gene and monoamine oxidase A (<italic>MAOA</italic>) gene have been involved in aggressive behavior, as have stressful life events (SLEs). However, most of available evidence was based upon single gene or single gene–environment design, which is limited in accounting for the variance of aggressive behavior, a complex phenotype. This study examined the possible gene × gene × environment interactions between SLE (interpersonal problems and academic pressure) and two genetic polymorphisms (<italic>MAOA</italic> T941G and <italic>COMT</italic> Ala22/72Ser) correlated with aggressive behaviors in a sample of 658 Chinese male adolescents. Mothers and teachers reported on adolescents’ aggressive behavior using Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher Report Form, respectively. Adolescents completed Self-Rating Life Events Checklist. Saliva samples were collected for DNA analysis. The results revealed no main effects of <italic>MAOA</italic> T941G and <italic>COMT</italic> Ala22/72Ser polymorphisms on male adolescents’ aggressive behaviors. However, a two-way interactive effect of interpersonal problems and <italic>MAOA</italic> T941G genotype on teacher-reported aggressive behavior was observed: adolescents with lower activity of <italic>MAOA</italic> T allele, but not those with <italic>MAOA</italic> G allele, exhibited greater aggressive behavior with an increase in interpersonal problems. A three-way interaction among <italic>COMT</italic> Ala22/72Ser and <italic>MAOA</italic> T941G polymorphisms, and SLE in the academic pressure on aggressive behavior was also identified. Among adolescents with lower activity of <italic>COMT</italic> GT/TT genotype and <italic>MAOA</italic> T allele, the higher level of academic pressure was significantly linked with an amplification of aggressive behavior, whereas this association didn’t exist among those with other genotypes. The present study presents the first evidence of <italic>COMT</italic> × <italic>MAOA</italic> × SLE interaction effect on male adolescents’ aggressive behavior, highlights the importance of considering distinct domains of stressful events and information bias when examining the effect of <italic>MAOA</italic> and <italic>COMT</italic> on aggressive behavior, and thereby contributes to <italic>MAOA</italic> gene-aggression and <italic>COMT</italic> gene-aggression literature.</p>