Pathogenic study on catechol-O-methyltransferase gene and catecholaminergic neurotransmitters with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese children

Abstract Background: This study analyzed a correlation between the Val158Met polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and catecholaminergic neurotransmitters in ADHD children. Methods: All subjects were genotyped for the Val158Met polymorphisms of COMT gene and determined in the difference of dopamine and noradrenalin by a 1:1 paired case-control study. Results: The frequencies of A/A, G/A and G/G were 51.67%, 41.11% and 7.22% in the case group, 62.22%, 31.11% and 6.67% in the control group. There was a significant difference in the distribution of all genotypes of COMT gene between the two groups (OR=1.85, χ2=7.80, P<0.05). The serum concentrations of dopamine and noradrenalin were 1.42±0.34 ng/ml and 177.70±37.92 pg/ml in the case group, 1.94±0.42 ng/ml and 206.20±42.45 pg/ml in the control group. There were the significant differences in the levels of dopamine and noradrenalin between the two groups (dopamine: t=4.30, P<0.01. noradrenalin: t=2.24, P<0.05). Conclusions: Our study suggested that there was the positive association between the Val158Met polymorphisms of COMT gene and catecholaminergic neurotransmitters in ADHD children.