Cited by 45Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPsychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingChild Abuse and Trauma

Gene-Gene-Environment Interactions of Serotonin Transporter, Monoamine Oxidase A and Childhood Maltreatment Predict Aggressive Behavior in Chinese Adolescents

Open access
Zhang, Yun, Ming, Qing-sen, Yi, Jin-yao, Wang, Xiang, Chai, Qiao-lian, Yao, Shu-qiao·2017·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

Gene-environment interactions that moderate aggressive behavior have been identified independently in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA). The aim of the present study was to investigate epistasis interactions between MAOA-variable number tandem repeat (VNTR), 5-HTTlinked polymorphism (LPR) and child abuse and the effects of these on aggressive tendencies in a group of otherwise healthy adolescents. A group of 546 Chinese male adolescents completed the Child Trauma Questionnaire and Youth self-report of the Child Behavior Checklist. Buccal cells were collected for DNA analysis. The effects of childhood abuse, MAOA-VNTR, 5-HTTLPR genotypes and their interactive gene-gene-environmental effects on aggressive behavior were analyzed using a linear regression model. The effect of child maltreatment was significant, and a three-way interaction among MAOA-VNTR, 5-HTTLPR and sexual abuse (SA) relating to aggressive behaviors was identified. Chinese male adolescents with high expression of the MAOA-VNTR allele and 5-HTTLPR "SS" genotype exhibited the highest aggression tendencies with an increase in SA during childhood. The findings reported support aggression being a complex behavior involving the synergistic effects of gene-gene-environment interactions.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00017

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  • There was a three-way interaction: MAOA-5-HTTLPR-Sexual Abuse (beta=0.127, t = 2.458, p = 0.014).

    “Three-way interaction: MAOA-5-HTTLPR-Sexual Abuse (beta=0.127, t = 2.458, p = 0.014)”

    From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Zhang [51]

    The Results section (Table 4; page not provided) reports a significant MAOA–5-HTTLPR–sexual abuse interaction with p = 0.014. The citing sentence omits the negative signs: the paper reports β = −0.127 and t = −2.458, not positive values. (LLM, conf=0.94)

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  • High MAOA activity (3.5, 4, 5 R) showed a significant SA x 5-HTTLPR interaction (beta=0.327, t = 3.483, p = 0.001).

    “High MAOA activity (3.5, 4, 5 R) -> significant SA x 5-HTTLPR (beta=0.327, t = 3.483, p = 0.001)”

    From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Zhang [51]

    The Results section reports a significant sexual abuse (SA) × 5-HTTLPR interaction in the high-MAOA-activity group, and Genetic Analysis defines that group as carriers of the 3.5-, 4-, or 5-repeat alleles. However, the reported β and t are −0.327 and −3.483, not the positive values in the claim; p = 0.001 matches. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Some studies failed to report a significant main effect of 5-HTTLPR on aggressive behaviors but demonstrated a significant gene-gene interaction on behavior.

    “Although some studies failed to report a significant main effect of 5-HTTLPR on aggressive behaviors, they demonstrated a significant gene-gene interaction on behavior.”

    From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [51]

    The Results section reports no significant association between 5-HTTLPR alone and adolescent aggression. It reports a significant three-way interaction involving MAOA, 5-HTTLPR, and sexual abuse, but not a significant gene–gene interaction on its own; the Discussion explicitly says the authors failed to find that two-gene effect. Page numbers were not supplied in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Several studies on European children and adolescents and Chinese adolescents did not report a significant main effect of 5-HTTLPR on aggressive behaviors and related phenotypes.

    “Several studies on European children and adolescents [78, 89] and Chinese adolescents [51] did not report a significant main effect of 5-HTTLPR on aggressive behaviors and related phenotypes.”

    From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [51]

  • There was no significant GxE for MAOA / 5-HTTLPR with childhood maltreatment experience on adolescent aggression.

    “Adolescent aggression: NS GxE for MAOA / 5-HTTLPR with childhood maltreatment experience”

    From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Zhang [51]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. United Nations Children’s Fund (2012). Child Maltreatment: Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences in the East Asia and Pacific Region—A Systematic Review of Research. Bangkok: UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO).

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Authors
Zhang, Y., Ming, Q.-S., Yi, J.-Y., Wang, X., Chai, Q.-L., & Yao, S.-Q.
Affiliations
  • Northwest Minzu University (CN)
  • Central South University (CN)
Venue
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2017-02-01
Volume
11
Pages
17-17
ISSN
1662-5153 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2583437510
Cited by
45
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2
FWCI
3.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (81471384)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
gene-environment interaction, epistasis, aggression, serotonin transporter gene, 5-HTTLPR, monoamine oxidase A, child abuse, child sexual abuse, Chinese adolescents, adolescent boys, Child Behavior Checklist

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