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

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 45 - 49
• Main Authors: Pivac, Nela, Knezevic, Jelena, Mustapic, Maja, Dezeljin, Martina, Muck-Seler, Dorotea, Kozaric-Kovacic, Dragica, Balija, Melita, Matijevic, Tanja, Pavelic, Jasminka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 30.05.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Platelets - enzymology; Control male subjects; Croatia; DNA - biosynthesis; DNA - genetics; Genotype; Humans; Introns - genetics; Male; MAO-B activity; MAO-B intron 13 polymorphism; Middle Aged; Monoamine oxidase (MAO); Monoamine Oxidase - genetics; Platelets; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Smoking - metabolism; Transcription Factor AP-2 - genetics; Croatia; Control male subjects; Monoamine oxidase (MAO); Platelets; MAO-B intron 13 polymorphism; MAO-B activity
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.12.030

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-2β 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.