TY - JOUR
T1 - Recurrence of bipolar mania is associated with catechol-O-methyltransferase Val(108/158)Met polymorphism
AU - Benedetti, Francesco
AU - Dallaspezia, Sara
AU - Locatelli, Clara
AU - Radaelli, Daniele
AU - Poletti, Sara
AU - Lorenzi, Cristina
AU - Pirovano, Adele
AU - Colombo, Cristina
AU - Smeraldi, Enrico
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - Background: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates catecholamines, and a G-A transition in the COMT gene (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity and the interaction between cortical and subcortical dopaminergic neurotransmission. In patients affected by bipolar disorder rs4680 can influence antidepressant response and the propensity to develop psychotic symptoms, with the Met/Met genotype exerting a protective role. The same genotype could influence other dopamine-associated psychopathological features, such as mania. Methods: We genotyped rs4680 in a sample of 163 patients affected by bipolar disorder type I, and assessed the personal history of recurrence of the illness. Results: We observed a significant association between homozygosis for the rs4680 COMT low-activity variant and a reduced recurrence of manic, but not depressive, episodes during the course of the illness. Conclusions: We suggest that rs4680 could be an inheritable aspect of the mechanisms of dopamine regulation that influence the individual susceptibility of patients with bipolar disorder to develop manic episodes of illness.
AB - Background: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates catecholamines, and a G-A transition in the COMT gene (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity and the interaction between cortical and subcortical dopaminergic neurotransmission. In patients affected by bipolar disorder rs4680 can influence antidepressant response and the propensity to develop psychotic symptoms, with the Met/Met genotype exerting a protective role. The same genotype could influence other dopamine-associated psychopathological features, such as mania. Methods: We genotyped rs4680 in a sample of 163 patients affected by bipolar disorder type I, and assessed the personal history of recurrence of the illness. Results: We observed a significant association between homozygosis for the rs4680 COMT low-activity variant and a reduced recurrence of manic, but not depressive, episodes during the course of the illness. Conclusions: We suggest that rs4680 could be an inheritable aspect of the mechanisms of dopamine regulation that influence the individual susceptibility of patients with bipolar disorder to develop manic episodes of illness.
KW - Bipolar disorder
KW - COMT
KW - Dopamine
KW - Gene
KW - Mania
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2011.02.022
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2011.02.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 21397335
AN - SCOPUS:79958137342
VL - 132
SP - 293
EP - 296
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
SN - 0165-0327
IS - 1-2
ER -