Association between low-activity allele of cathecolamine-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) and Borderline Personality Disorder in an Italian population

Behav Med. 2013;39(2):25-8. doi: 10.1080/08964289.2012.722134.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to test the association between Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the cathecolamine-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) low-activity (Met158) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). In this case-control study, DNA was obtained from venous blood of 19 BPD patients and 36 healthy subjects. COMT-Val158Met single-nucleotide polymorphism was genotyped by predesigned SNP assay. The COMT Met158 allele was over-represented in patients with BPD in comparison to normal subjects (68.4% vs 44.4%, respectively; Fisher exact test, p = .02). In terms of genotype, the Met158Met subjects were more frequent in patients versus controls (47.4% vs 22.2%, respectively), whereas the high-activity genotype Val158Val was under-represented (10.5% vs 33.3%, respectively). The allele encoding for the COMT with low enzymatic efficiency was found to be over-represented in BPD, possibly resulting in excessive synaptic dopaminergic activity and ultimately affecting externalizing behaviours, such as impulsivity and aggressiveness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / physiology
  • Alleles*
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Substances

  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase