An interaction between the norepinephrine transporter and monoamine oxidase A polymorphisms, and novelty-seeking personality traits in Korean females

Boung Chul Lee, Jae Won Yang, So Hee Lee, Seung Hyun Kim, Sook Haeng Joe, In Kwa Jung, Ihn Geun Choi, Byung Joo Ham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The personality traits associated with the noradrenergic system have not yet been clearly established. In the present study, we investigated the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism of the norepinephrine transporter (NET) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), which are major components of the adrenergic system, to elucidate their relationship with personality. A total of 245 normal female Koreans (age 23.05 ± 3.07 years, mean ± SD) volunteered to take part in this study. They filled out a Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and were genotyped for the NET and MAOA-VNTR; the NET T-182C and MAOA-uVNTR polymorphisms were checked. We found significant main effect of NET genotype on novelty seeking (NS) score (F = 5.43, p = 0.021) and significant interaction between the NET and MAOA-uVNTR polymorphisms on NS score (F = 11.06, p = 0.001). However, there were no relationship between MAOA-uVNTR polymorphisms and NS score, and no association with other temperamental dimensions and these two polymorphisms. Our findings suggest that this functional polymorphism in the noradrenergic gene is associated with novelty seeking in Korean females.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)238-242
Number of pages5
JournalProgress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Jan 1
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by a Korean Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund) (KRF-2006-003-E00188).

Keywords

  • Genes
  • Monoamine oxidase-A
  • Norepinephrine transporter
  • Personality
  • Polymorphism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Biological Psychiatry

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