Over the past two decades, research has revealed that genetic factors shape the propensity for aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior. The best-documented gene implicated in aggression is MAOA (Monoamine oxidase A), which encodes the key enzyme for the degradation of serotonin and catecholamines. Congenital MAOA deficiency, as well as low-activity MAOA variants, has been associated with a higher risk for antisocial behavior (ASB) and violence, particularly in males with a history of child maltreatment. Indeed, the interplay between low MAOA genetic variants and early-life adversity is the best-documented gene × environment (G × E) interaction in the pathophysiology of aggression and ASB. Additional evidence indicates that low MAOA activity in the brain is strongly associated with a higher propensity for aggression; furthermore, MAOA inhibition may be one of the primary mechanisms whereby prenatal smoke exposure increases the risk of ASB. Complementary to these lines of evidence, mouse models of Maoa deficiency and G × E interactions exhibit striking similarities with clinical phenotypes, proving to be valuable tools to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying antisocial and aggressive behavior. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the knowledge on the involvement of MAOA in aggression, as defined by preclinical and clinical evidence. In particular, we show how the convergence of human and animal research is proving helpful to our understanding of how MAOA influences antisocial and violent behavior and how it may assist in the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies for aggressive manifestations.

在过去的二十年里，研究表明遗传因素塑造了攻击性、反社会和暴力行为的倾向。与侵略有关的记录最充分的基因是MAOA（单胺氧化酶 A），它编码降解血清素和儿茶酚胺的关键酶。先天性MAOA缺乏以及低活性MAOA变体与反社会行为 (ASB) 和暴力的风险较高有关，特别是在有虐待儿童史的男性中。事实上，低MAOA之间的相互作用遗传变异和早期生活逆境是攻击性和 ASB 病理生理学中记录最充分的基因 × 环境 (G × E) 相互作用。其他证据表明，大脑中低 MAOA 活动与较高的攻击倾向密切相关。此外，MAOA 抑制可能是产前烟雾暴露增加 ASB 风险的主要机制之一。作为这些证据的补充，Maoa缺乏和 G × E 相互作用的小鼠模型与临床表型表现出惊人的相似性，证明是研究反社会和攻击行为背后的神经生物学机制的宝贵工具。在这里，我们全面概述了有关MAOA参与的知识现状攻击性，如临床前和临床证据所定义。特别是，我们展示了人类和动物研究的融合如何证明有助于我们理解MAOA如何影响反社会和暴力行为，以及它如何帮助制定针对攻击性表现的预防和治疗策略。