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
Open accessAbstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated that both Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene have been involved in aggressive behavior, as have stressful life events. 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 stressful life events (SLE, interpersonal problems and academic pressure) and two genetic polymorphisms (MAOA T941G and COMT 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 MAOA T941G and COMT Ala22/72Ser polymorphisms on male adolescents’ aggressive behaviors. However, a two-way interactive effect of interpersonal problems and MAOA T941G genotype on teacher-reported aggressive behavior was observed: Adolescents with lower activity of MAOA T allele, but not those with MAOA G allele, exhibited greater aggressive behavior with an increase in interpersonal problems. A three-way interaction among COMT Ala22/72Ser and MAOA T941G polymorphisms, and SLE in the academic pressure on aggressive behavior was also identified. Among adolescents with lower activity of COMT GT/TT genotype and MAOA 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 COMT × MAOA × 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 MAOA and COMT on aggressive behavior, and thereby contributes to MAOA gene-aggression and COMT gene-aggression literature. Keywords: MAOA, COMT, stressful life events, aggressive behavior, gene gene environment interaction
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There was a three-way interaction: COMT x MAOA x academic pressure (p = 0.02): lower activity COMT (GT/TT) + MAOA T allele + increased academic pressure led to increased aggression.
“Three-way interaction: COMT x MAOA x academic pressure (p = 0.02): lower activity COMT (GT/TT) + MAOA T allele + increased academic pressure -> increased aggression”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Wang [64]
The Results report a significant three-way interaction for mother-reported aggression, and the follow-up analysis links higher academic pressure to greater aggression among adolescents with COMT GT/TT and the MAOA T allele. However, Table 3 gives p = 0.01 for the three-way interaction, not p = 0.02. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA three-way interaction was reported where carriers of the COMT low-activity rs6267 T allele and MAOA rs6323 T allele displayed higher aggressive behavior in the presence of high academic pressure than those with low academic pressure; this association was not observed in carriers of other genotype combinations.
“A three-way interaction was reported, where carriers of the COMT low-activity rs6267 T allele and MAOA rs6323 T allele displayed higher aggressive behavior in the presence of high academic pressure than those with low academic pressure; this association was not observed in carriers of other genotype combinations [64].”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
There was no significant main effect of MAOA & COMT on male aggression.
“NS main effect of MAOA & COMT on male aggression”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Wang [64]
There was a two-way interaction: interpersonal problems x MAOA on teacher-reported aggression (p = 0.01): low activity MAOA (T allele) + increased interpersonal problems led to increased aggression.
“Two-way interaction: interpersonal problems x MAOA on teacher-reported aggression (p = 0.01): low activity MAOA (T allele) + increased interpersonal problems -> increased aggression”
From Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as Wang [64]
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Genetics of child aggression, a systematic review
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- Authors
- Wang, M., Li, H., Deater-Deckard, K., & Zhang, W.
- Affiliations
- Shandong Normal University (CN)
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
- Corresponding author
- Li, Hailei
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2018-07-03
- Volume
- 9
- Pages
- 1079-1079
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6037980
- OpenAlex
- W2808006825
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31500899, 31671156)
- Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- catechol-O-methyltransferase, monoamine oxidase A, aggression, life events, gene-environment interaction, academic stress, interpersonal problems, adolescent boys, Chinese adolescents
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