Retz, W. and Rösler, M. and Kissling, C. and Wiemann, S. and Hünnerkopf, R. and Coogan, Andrew and Thome, J. and Freitag, C. (2008) Norepinephrine transporter and catecholamine-O-methyltransferase gene variants and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults. Journal of Neural Transmission, 115 (2). pp. 323-329. ISSN 0300-9564

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Abstract

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex, highly heritable psychiatric condition. Neuropsychological and pharmacological studies suggest a dysregulation of central noradrenergic neurotransmission in addition to dopaminergic and serotonergic mechanisms. Only a few studies have focused on the association of noradrenergic susceptibility genes with ADHD. In this study, we investigated the association of several ADHD symptom scores (German short form of the Wender Utah Rating Scale, WURS-k; ADHD self report, ADHD-SB, and the German validated version of the WRAADDS, WRI) with haplotypes of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and the norepinephrine transporter (SLC6A2) genes. Subjects were genotyped for three SLC6A2 (rs5569, rs998424, rs2242447) and two COMT single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4680, rs4818). In addition, psychosocial adversity in childhood was assessed in order to evaluate putative gene-environment interactions. We did not find main effects of the COMT and SLC6A2 NET1 gene haplotypes on any ADHD symptom severity score. Childhood psychosocial adversity was strongly associated with number of ADHD symptoms. No gene-environment interaction was found. A specific combination of two COMT and SLC6A2 gene haplotypes, containing the low functioning COMT variant was nominally associated with low ADHD scores in all scales. Results do not support the hypothesis that common variants in the SLC6A2 and COMT genes in particular are associated with ADHD, but might give some evidence for interactive effects between these gene variants on ADHD severity.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	ADHD; adult; COMT; SLC6A2; genetic association;
Academic Unit:	Assisting Living & Learning,ALL institute Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Human Health Institute
Item ID:	16462
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-007-0822-5
Depositing User:	Dr. Andrew Coogan
Date Deposited:	30 Aug 2022 15:01
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Neural Transmission
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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