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Genetically based reduced MAOA and COMT functioning is associated with the cortisol stress response: a replication study

Molecular Psychiatry volume 17, pages 119–121 (2012)Cite this article

Variants in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) genes, related to decreased clearance of catecholamines, were associated with an increased hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis response to a social stressor.1 The aim of the present study was to replicate this finding. Replication of genetic associations is essential before conclusions and causal interpretations can be drawn. The combined effect of the 30-bp length variable number or tandem repeats in the MAOA gene and the COMT val158met SNP (rs4680) on cortisol responses to stress was examined in 452 participants of TRAILS (TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey) (mean age 16.01 years (s.d.=0.94): 38.5% girls, no oral contraceptives users).

Participants performed the Groningen Social Stress Test (GSST, details in ref. 2). Cortisol was assessed from saliva: just before (C1), directly after (C2) and 20 mins (C3) and 40 mins (C4) after the end of the GSST. Depressed mood was assessed just before the GSST with the short Profile of Mood States questionnaire.3 DNA was extracted from blood samples (n=406) or buccal swabs (n=46). To avoid elevated cortisol levels, due to venipuncture-related stress, blood samples were collected during another week as the GSST was assessed. Genotyping call rate was 100% for rs4680 and 98% for the 30-bp variable number or tandem repeats.

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Acknowledgements

TRAILS has been financially supported by various grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program grant GB-MW 940-38-011; ZonMW Brainpower grant 100-001-004; ZonMw Risk Behavior and Dependence grants 60-60600-98-018 and 60-60600-97-118; ZonMw Culture and Health grant 261-98-710; Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants GB-MaGW 480-01-006 and GB-MaGW 480-07-001; Social Sciences Council project grants GB-MaGW 457-03-018, GB-MaGW 452-04-314, and GB-MaGW 452-06-004; NWO large-sized investment grant 175.010.2003.005; NWO Longitudinal Survey and Panel Funding 481-08-013); the Sophia Foundation for Medical Research (projects 301 and 393), the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC), the European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project FP-006) and the participating universities. These sponsors had no involvement in study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, neither in writing nor decisions regarding the submission of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center for Psychiatric Epidemiology and Groningen Graduate School Medical Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    E M C Bouma, H Riese, B Doornbos, J Ormel & A J Oldehinkel

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Unit of Genetic Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    H Riese

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  1. E M C Bouma
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Correspondence to E M C Bouma.

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Bouma, E., Riese, H., Doornbos, B. et al. Genetically based reduced MAOA and COMT functioning is associated with the cortisol stress response: a replication study. Mol Psychiatry 17, 119–121 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2011.115

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