The enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) transfers a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to the benzene ring of catecholamines including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. This methylation results in the degradation of catecholamines. The involvement of the COMT gene in the metabolic pathway of these neurotransmitters has made it an attractive candidate gene for many psychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the association between the genetic polymorphisms of COMT gene and psychiatric disorders.
Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

The prevalence of violence behavior in patients with schizophrenia is higher than that in common population. Data suggest that genetic factors may play a substantial role for the etiology of the behavior. Among the particular gene polymorphisms that have been considered to be involved in violence behavior, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene had been the focus of recent research. This article reviews the association research between COMT gene and violence behavior in patients with schizophrenia in several aspects: SNP polymorphism of COMT Val158Met and COMT Ala72Ser, haplotype of COMT gene and DNA methylation of promoter region of COMT gene. The genetic research direction is presented for patients with schizophrenia.
Aggression ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase/genetics* ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Schizophrenia/genetics* ; Violence

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between COMT polymorphisms and the response to antipsychotic drugs, and then provide a basis for personalized medicine of antipsychotic drugs.
 METHODS: We performed a systematic search from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang database for eligible studies. Stata 12.0 was used for Meta-analysis after evaluating the quality of studies and collecting the data.
 RESULTS: Nine studies included 868 participants met inclusion criteria. Significant association was found between the COMT Val108/158Met gene polymorphism and antipsychotic drug efficacy. Evaluating the therapeutic efficacy through general symptoms: Met vs Val, RR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.04-1.35, P=0.013; Met/Met vs Val/Val, RR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.08-1.82, P=0.010. Evaluating the therapeutic efficacy through negative symptoms: Met vs Val, RR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.46, P=0.013; Met/Met vs Val/Val, RR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.04-2.46, P=0.031.
 CONCLUSION COMT Val108/158Met gene polymorphism is significantly associated with antipsychotic drug efficacy, and Met gene is a dominant gene which displays a better response to antipsychotic drugs.
Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Panic disorder is one of the chronic and disabling anxiety disorders. There has been evidence for either genetic heterogeneity or complex inheritance, with environmental factor interactions and multiple single genes, in panic disorder's etiology. Linkage studies have implicated several chromosomal regions, but no research has replicated evidence for major genes involved in panic disorder. Researchers have suggested several neurotransmitter systems are related to panic disorder. However, to date no candidate gene association studies have established specific loci. Recently, researchers have emphasized genome-wide association studies. Results of two genome-wide association studies on panic disorder failed to show significant associations. Evidence exists for differences regarding gender and ethnicity in panic disorder. Increasing evidence suggests genes underlying panic disorder overlap, transcending current diagnostic boundaries. In addition, an anxious temperament and anxiety-related personality traits may represent intermediate phenotypes that predispose to panic disorder. Future research should focus on broad phenotypes, defined by comorbidity or intermediate phenotypes. Genome-wide association studies in large samples, studies of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and pharmacogenetic studies are needed.
Catechol O-Methyltransferase/genetics ; Cholecystokinin/genetics ; Genetic Loci ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Monoamine Oxidase/genetics ; Panic Disorder/*genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between 8 polymorphisms in the catechol-O-methyl transferase gene (COMT) and schizophrenia in Yuedong-Chaoshan region of China.

METHODSEight single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs), namely rs4680, rs4818, rs165599, rs737865, rs2075507, rs6267, rs6269 and rs4633, in the COMT gene were genotyped in 279 schizophrenia patients and 100 healthy controls.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between any single SNP and schizophrenia. However, association might exist between haplotypes (G)-G-A-A [(rs4680)-rs165599-rs2075507-rs6269] and A-A-C-(G) [rs2075507-rs6269-rs4633-(rs6267)] and schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONIn the population of Yuedong region of China, the eight SNPs (rs4680, rs4818, rs165599, rs737865, rs2075507, rs6267, rs6269 and rs4633) in the COMT gene are unlikely to play a major role in the susceptibility to schizophrenia. There might be protective haplotypes in the COMT gene against schizophrenia.

Adult ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Schizophrenia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis whether polymorphism in estrogen-metabolizing genes, COMT and CYP17, impacts on the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women.

METHODSCOMT (Val158Met) and CYP17 (T1931C) polymorphisms were detected by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 250 breast cancer patients and 250 frequency-matched normal controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression.

RESULTSCOMT Met/Met genotype was found in 10.4% of breast cancer patients, which was significantly higher (P = 0.03) than that in controls (5.2%). Women with Met/Met genotype showed 2-fold increased risk for breast cancer (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1 - 4.5) compared with those with Val/Val or Val/Met genotypes. Stratified analysis showed that the elevated risk of breast cancer, associating with the COMT Met/Met genotype, was evident only among premenopausal women (adjusted OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.2 - 17.3) but not among postmenopausal women (adjusted OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.5 - 3.5). There was no significant difference in the distribution of CYP17 genotypes between breast cancer patients and the control subjects (P = 0.83).

CONCLUSIONThe allele encoding for low activity COMT, but not CYP17, may be a genetic risk factor for breast cancer among Chinese women.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

Sexual orientation is influenced by both environmental factors and biological factors. Family and twin studies have shown that genetic factors play an important role in the formation of male homosexuality. Genome-wide scan also revealed candidate chromosomal regions which may be associated with male homosexuality, but so far no clearly related genes have been found. This article reviews the progress of relevant studies and candidate genes which are related to male homosexuality.
Animals ; Aromatase ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Homosexuality, Male ; genetics ; Humans ; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Receptors, Dopamine D1 ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) genes among Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.

METHODSGenotypes of the COMT and MAO-B genes of 1408 patients with Parkinson's disease was sequenced using Sanger method. And these patients were recruited by Chinese Parkinson Study Group from 29 research centers throughout the country.

RESULTSThe genotypic frequencies of COMT rs4680 AA, AG, GG were 8.9%, 42.0% and 49.1%. Those of rs4818 CC, CG, GG were 42.5%, 45.6% and 11.9%, respectively. The genotype frequencies of MAO-B rs1799836 A/AA, AG, G/GG were 74.4%, 14.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The haplotype formed by COMT rs4680 (GG) and MAO-B rs1799836 (A/AA) genotype has a frequency of 36.86%.

CONCLUSIONPolymorphisms of COMT and MAO-B genes has a unique characteristics among Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease. They may be related with differences in drug response in such patients.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Monoamine Oxidase ; genetics ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

PURPOSE: Alexithymia, defined as a deficit in the ability to recognize and describe one's own feelings, may be related to the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism and alexithymia in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 244 patients with OCD (169 males, 75 females). Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and genotyping of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism was evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher total and "difficulty identifying feelings" (DIF) subdimension scores than those with the Val/Met or Met/Met genotypes. Patients with the COMT Val/Val genotype had significantly higher "difficulty describing feelings" (DDF) subdimension scores than those with the COMT Val/Met genotype. However, there were no differences in the scores for the "externally oriented thinking" (EOT) subdimension among the three genotypes. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the high-activity Val allele of the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism is associated with increased alexithymic traits in patients with OCD. The present finding suggests that alexithymia is an endophenotype of OCD that is mediated by the COMT Val(158)Met polymorphism.
Adult ; Affective Symptoms/*diagnosis/genetics/psychology ; Alleles ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase/*genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/*diagnosis/genetics/psychology ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVETo detect the relationship between heroin dependence and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.

METHODSGenotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met and 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphisms of COMT gene were examined in 313 heroin-dependent subjects and 214 normal controls.

RESULTSNo differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 108 val/met polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=1.67, P=0.43; allele-wise: chi-square=1.23, P=0.27). No differences in genotype and allele frequencies of 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene were observed between heroin-dependent subjects and normal controls (genotype-wise: chi-square=3.73, P=0.16; allele-wise: chi-square=0.76, P=0.38).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that neither 108 val/met polymorphism nor 900 Ins C/Del C polymorphism of COMT gene was associated with heroin dependence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Heroin Dependence ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Deletion