Lee S.-Y.Hahn C.-Y.Lee J.-F.Huang S.-Y.Chen S.-L.PO-HSIU KUOLee I.H.Yeh T.L.Yang Y.K.Chen S.-H.Ko H.-C.2020-11-182020-11-1820100145-6008https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77954065754&doi=10.1111%2fj.1530-0277.2010.01198.x&partnerID=40&md5=b85578e2ba76fa857f07fcfd903b8b79https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/521114Background: Alcohol dependence is usually comorbid with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or both; this comorbidity may increase drinking behavior. We previously hypothesized that anxiety-depressive alcohol dependence (ANX/DEP ALC) was a genetically specific subtype of alcohol dependence. ANX/DEP ALC may be related to dopamine and serotonin, which are catalyzed by monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2). The aim of this study was to determine whether the interaction between the MAOA and the ALDH2 genes is associated with ANX/DEP ALC. Methods: We recruited 383 Han Chinese men in Taiwan: 143 ANX/DEP ALC and 240 healthy controls. The diagnosis of ANX/DEP ALC (alcohol dependence with a past or current history of anxiety, depressive disorder, or both) was made using DSM-IV criteria. Genotypes of ALDH2 and MAOA-uVNTR (variable number of tandem repeat located upstream) were determined using PCR-RFLP. Results: The ALDH2, but not the MAOA-uVNTR, polymorphism was associated with ANX/DEP ALC. After stratifying the MAOA-uVNTR polymorphism, we found a stronger association between the ALDH2*1/*2 and *2/*2 genotypes and the controls in the MAOA-uVNTR 4-repeat subgroup. Logistic regression significantly associated the interaction between ALDH2 and MAOA variants with ANX/DEP ALC. Conclusion: We conclude that the MAOA and ALDH2 genes interact in ANX/DEP ALC. Although the MAOA gene alone is not associated with ANX/DEP ALC, we hypothesize that different variants of MAOA-uVNTR polymorphisms modify the protective effects of the ALDH2*2 allele on ANX/DEP ALC in Han Chinese in Taiwan. ? 2010 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.[SDGs]SDG3aldehyde dehydrogenase isoenzyme 2; amine oxidase (flavin containing) isoenzyme A; adult; alcoholism; anxiety depression alcohol dependence; article; controlled study; gene frequency; gene interaction; genetic association; genetic linkage; genetic polymorphism; genetic susceptibility; genetic variability; genotype; human; major clinical study; male; polymerase chain reaction; priority journal; restriction fragment length polymorphism; variable number of tandem repeat; Adult; Alcoholism; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Alleles; Anxiety Disorders; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Depressive Disorder; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Minisatellite Repeats; Monoamine Oxidase; Polymorphism, Genetic; Taiwanjournal article10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01198.xAlcohol. Clin. Exp. Res.