Moderator Effects of Life Stress on the Association between MAOA-uVNTR, Depression, and Burnout

Abstract

Background: The serotonergic and noradrenergic systems have a strong impact on several affective disorders and are key targets for psychopharmacological therapy. With respect to pathogenesis, there is a growing body of evidence showing an influence of a promoter repeat polymorphism (MAOA-uVNTR) altering the expression rate of monoamine oxidase A. However, only a few studies investigate its influence on depression with only 2 of them considering the moderating effects of life stress. For burnout, there are no studies so far investigating the genetic basis. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to replicate an interaction effect of MAOA-uVNTR and life stress on depression, and extend these possible findings to the burnout syndrome. Especially, the latter one might help in understanding the underlying mechanisms of burnout and its association to depression. Method: A total of n = 1,541 participants (n = 1,099 healthy controls, n = 442 inpatients with affective disorders) provided genetic samples and filled in self-report questionnaires measuring depression, burnout, and the extent of experienced stressful life events (SLEs). Results: A life stress x MAOA-uVNTR interaction on depression and burnout was observed in women suggesting that carriers of the high expressing allele (MAO-H) with many SLEs had the highest scores in both burnout and depression. In men, there was only a weak effect of MAOA-uVNTR on depression. Conclusions: The results suggest a more pronounced reactivity to adverse environmental factors in carriers of the MAO-H allele. Especially the effect of life stress and MAOA-uVNTR on burnout should be independently replicated in the future as this is the first study showing this association.

Monoamine oxidase A and organic cation transporter 3 coordinate intracellular β1AR signaling to calibrate cardiac contractile function

“…Catecholamine import and degradation by OCT3 and MAO-A determine the local concentration, duration, and physical spread of released catecholamines, critically modulating the magnitude, duration, and diversity of their effects in physio(patho)logical conditions [ 20 ]. Given their role in modulating neurotransmitters, MAO-A and OCT3 in the brain are also pathogenic factors of depressive disorders [ 11 , 33 , 35 , 42 , 51 ]. Here, we found elevated cardiac catecholamine levels in cardiac-specific MAO-A knockout mice.…”

Predicting Stock Market Performance

“…We then multiplied each “yes” answer with its intensity rating and summed all resulting scores to get a single cumulative life stress score for each participant. The SLE list has already been used in other studies and has been shown to be associated to depressive and – to a lesser degree - burnout symptomatology (Plieger et al, 2019; Plieger, Melchers, Montag, Meermann, & Reuter, 2015) (see supplementary material available from https://osf.io/q57pk/ for the complete item list).…”

Assessment of the Genetic Characteristics of a Generation Born during a Long-Term Socioeconomic Crisis

“…It has been suggested that individuals with MAOA-L may be at increased risk of depletion of an HPA response under stress [17]. Male carriers of MAOA-H have a larger dopamine release and elevated aggression after a violent movie [18], whereas female carriers have higher scores on both burnout and depression after stressful life events [19]. In female 3R carriers, there is higher emotional stability, which negatively correlates with depression and anxiety [20].…”