The lack of association between monoamine oxidase (MAO) intron 13 polymorphism and platelet MAO-B activity among men

Life Sci. 2006 May 30;79(1):45-9. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.12.030. Epub 2006 Jan 19.

Abstract

Monoamine oxidase (MAO), a mitochondrial flavine containing enzyme, exists in two isoenzymes, MAO-A and MAO-B. Platelets contain MAO-B subtype, proposed to be a biomarker for different personality characteristics and vulnerability for substance abuse. The most common polymorphism of MAO-B gene, a single base change (A or G) occurs in intron 13. It has been proposed to be a functional polymorphism, controlling the activity of MAO-B in platelets. The aim of the study was to determine the association between platelet MAO-B activity and MAO-B intron 13 polymorphism in 225 racially and ethnically uniform healthy Caucasian men of the Croatian origin. Our results showed that platelet MAO-B activity did not differ between subjects subdivided into those with <<A-allele>> or <<G-allele>>. This polymorphism of the MAO-B gene did not control the activity of the MAO-B in platelets. Platelet MAO-B activity was associated only with the smoking status, and it was significantly decreased in smokers when compared to nonsmokers. No significant association was found between MAO-B polymorphism and smoking status. In healthy individuals of the Croatian origin, the studied MAO-B polymorphism showed a lack of functional importance in regulating MAO-B activity in platelets. Since different populations may vary in the association between functional polymorphism and the MAO-B activity, and the genotype of transcription factor AP-2 beta was reported to be associated with altered platelet MAO-B activity, and with specific personality traits, further studies on different populations should be conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanism/s regulating platelet MAO-B activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Platelets / enzymology*
  • Croatia
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monoamine Oxidase / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*
  • Smoking / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor AP-2 / genetics

Substances

  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • DNA
  • Monoamine Oxidase