Abstract:

The development of depression has important underpinnings. With the advancement of molecular genetics, the research on the mechanisms of depression has reached molecular level in recent years. Recent studies have demonstrated that the MAOA (monoamine oxidase A) gene has played an important role in depression. Evidence has been reported that MAOA gene had a direct effect on depression, and MAOA gene interacted with environments and other genes in predicting depression. However, the related research findings have not been always consistent and even contradictory in some cases. Future research should focus on such issues as the complex interactions between MAOA gene and multi-environments or other genes, examining the age effect of MAOA gene on depression, and its underlying neurobiological mechanisms.

Key words: MAOA gene, depression, gene-environment interaction, MAOA-uVNTR