The association between fibromyalgia and polymorphism of monoamine oxidase A and interleukin-4

Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Jan;26(1):12-6. doi: 10.1007/s10067-006-0213-6. Epub 2006 Mar 18.

Abstract

Because fibromyalgia (FM) is often comorbid with anxiety, and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) was reported to be associated with anxiety, we determine if there is MAOA gene polymorphism associated with FM patients. Moreover, interleukin 4 (IL-4) was found to be an important cytokine participating in the immunologic pathway of T-helper 2 (Th-2) cells, in this study, we search if the genetic polymorphism of IL-4 intron3 could be demonstrated in FM patients. The genotype of sixty-two FM patients was compared with that of control subjects. The polymorphism of IL-4 intron3 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) was demonstrated by performing the genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzing the length of PCR product. Furthermore, the MAOA 941 G to T polymorphism was also determined by PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis. The MAOA 941 position genotype polymorphism between FM and control subjects was found neither statistically different in male (p=0.60) or female (p=0.52), nor total allelic frequency (p=0.52). Similarly, the difference of IL-4 intron3 polymorphism between FM and control was neither existing in genotype (p=0.06), nor allele frequency (p=0.07). The result suggests either the genetic linkage between FM and anxiety or that between FM and immunologic diseases are weak. Accordingly, the MAOA 941 position and IL-4 intron3 polymorphisms are not susceptible markers to predict FM.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Fibromyalgia / genetics*
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Monoamine Oxidase / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Interleukin-4
  • Monoamine Oxidase