Study Report

Basic Info
Reference |
Turic D, 2005(b)15635644
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Citation |
Turic D., Williams H., Langley K., Owen M., Thapar A. and O'Donovan M. C. (2005) "A family based study of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)." Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 133B(1): 64-7.
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Study Design |
family-based |
Study Type |
Candidate-gene association study |
Sample Size |
176 parent-proband trios and 103 duos |
Predominant Ethnicity |
Caucasian |
Population |
United Kingdom |
Gender |
92% male and 8% female |
Age Group |
Children/Adolescents
:
6-16 years (mean age 9.2 years, standard deviation 1.8 years)
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Detail Info
Summary |
The gene encoding catechol-Omethyltransferase (COMT) is an attractive candidate for ADHD susceptibility as it plays a major role in the degradation of dopamine. Moreover, a functional Val158Met polymorphism in COMT that alters the activity of the encoded protein has been strongly implicated in frontal lobe function, with the high activity Valine allele being associated with poorer performance, and ADHD is thought to involve fronto-striatal pathways. They have examined this functional variant for association with ADHD in a family based association sample comprising 279 probands and their parents. They have also examined two other markers in the COMT gene (rs737865, rs165599) which, together with the Val/Met variant, have recently been shown to be associated with altered COMT expression rather than enzyme activity. No evidence for association was observed with any single marker or haplotype in a sample of 279 affected children and their parents. |
Total Sample |
The sample included 176 parent-proband trios and 103 duos. ADHD probands, of whom 92% were male and 8% female, were of British Caucasian origin and aged between 6 and 16 years (mean age 9.2 years, standard deviation 1.8 years) at the time of interview. |
Sample Collection |
Families of children with suspected or diagnosed ADHD were recruited from District Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Paediatric Clinics in South Wales, Bristol and the South West of United Kingdom, and Greater Manchester. |
Diagnosis Description |
Mothers were interviewed about their children, using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) [Angold et al., 1995], a research diagnostic interview. Reports of ADHD symptoms and impairment at school were also obtained using a semi-structured teacher telephone interview (Child ADHD Teacher Telephone Interview (CHATTI) [Holmes et al., 2004]. Diagnoses were assigned according to ICD-10, DSM-IV, and DSM-III-R criteria. |
Technique |
DNA was obtained from venous blood or mouthwash samples using standard techniques. All three polymorphisms were genotyped by single nucleotide primer extension using a template-directed dye-terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization detection [Hsu et al., 2001] based upon AcycloPrimeTM reagents (Perkin Elmer Life Science Products, Boston, MA) according to the manufacturers recommendations. Analyses were performed using a LJL Biosystems AnalystTM platform. |
Analysis Method |
Genotypic data were analyzed for the complete sample using the statistical package TRANSMIT [Clayton, 1999]. However, as the use of incomplete families may lead to spurious association, they also undertook TDT analysis for complete trios only [Sham and Curtis, 1995]. Evidence for association between haplotypes constructed from the three markers and ADHD was sought using TRANSMIT. |
Result Description |
They have also examined two other markers in the COMT gene (rs737865, rs165599) which, together with the Val/Met variant, have recently been shown to be associated with altered COMT expression rather than enzyme activity. No evidence for association was observed with any single marker or haplotype in a sample of 279 affected children and their parents. |

SNPs reported by this study (count: 3)
SNP |
Allele Change |
Risk Allele |
Statistical Values |
Author Comments |
Result of Statistical Analysis |
rs4680 |
G(Val)/A(Met) |
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allelic TRANSMIT P-value (10,000 simulations)=0.88, X2=0.017 |
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
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Non-significant
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rs165599 |
G/A |
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allelic TRANSMIT P-value (10,000 simulations)=0.71, X2=0.154 |
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
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Non-significant
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rs737865 |
G/A |
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allelic TRANSMIT P-value (10,000 simulations)=0.52, X2=0.411 |
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
did not show preferential transmission of any allele
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Non-significant
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Genes reported by this study (count: 1)
Gene |
Statistical Values/Author Comments |
Result of Statistical Analysis |
COMT |
none of the SNPs or haplotypes showed evidence for associati......
none of the SNPs or haplotypes showed evidence for association with ADHD
More...
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Non-significant
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