Association Analysis of Monoamine Oxidase-A Gene Promoter Polymorphism (MAOA uVNTR) for Antisocial Behavior: Absence of the Counting Number Repeats in Central Iran

Abstract

Background: The MAOA gene is located on the X chromosome (Xp11.23). Several studies have established a VNTR (Variable Number Tandem Repeat) polymorphism in the upstream of the MAOA gene transcriptional initiation region named uVNTR which is correlated with the risk of antisocial behavior. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between MAOA genotypes and the risk of violent behavior in a cohort of violent and age-matched non-violent individuals. Methods: In the current case-control study, MAOA uVNTR was genotyped in a cohort of 88 violent and 95 age-matched non-violent individuals. Individuals were genotyped for the MAOA uVNTR by performing PCR, gel electrophoresis, and sequencing. Furthermore, a chi-square test was performed using SPSS, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We identified three MAOA uVNTR allelic variants: They were harboring 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 repeated sequences. Alleles with 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 repeats were not observed in any of the two examined groups. Conclusions: We did not detect a statistically appreciable association between antisocial behavior and allele frequencies in the studied population in central Iran.