MAOA-VNTR基因多态性与自杀行为的研究进展

Progress on the Studies Addressing the Association between Monoamine Oxidase A(MAOA)-VNTR Polymorphism and Suicidal Behavior

大多数有关自杀行为的生化研究表明5-羟色胺(5-HT)是与自杀有关的关键性神经递质。单胺氧化酶A(MAOA)是5-HT代谢过程中的重要灭活酶,起到平衡大脑中5-HT分泌的作用。本文对MAOA及其基因多态性在自杀行为发病机制中所起作用的研究现况和进展作出综述。

It is widely accepted that the neurotransmitter serotonin （5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT） plays an important role in suicidal behavior. Monoamine oxidase A （MAOA） is the key enzyme responsible for the inactivation of 5-HT in the brain thus involved in the homeostasis of this neurotransmitter. This paper is aimed to review the new progress on the studies addressing the association between MAOA gene polymorphism and suicidal behavior.