Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) (MAOA)

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is a flavin-containing enzyme located on the outer mitochondrial membrane that plays a critical role in the degradation of biogenic and dietary monoamines, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine [6, 10]. By regulating the levels of these neurotransmitters, MAOA is a central player in brain function and has long been a primary therapeutic target for the treatment of major depressive disorder and anxiety [2, 10]. Beyond its classical role in neuropsychiatry, MAOA has recently emerged as a significant factor in oncology, particularly in prostate and lung cancers, where its overexpression is linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, and resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy [1, 7, 13]. Furthermore, MAOA acts as an immunomodulator in the tumor microenvironment, where high expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is associated with T-cell exhaustion and immunosuppression [2, 8]. Pharmacological targeting of MAOA involves a variety of inhibitors, ranging from irreversible non-selective agents to reversible isoform-specific drugs, though their use requires careful management of safety concerns such as the tyramine-induced hypertensive crisis and serotonin syndrome [2, 10]. mRNA levels of MAOA are frequently utilized as biomarkers to assess gene expression and predict disease progression or therapeutic response in both psychiatric and oncological contexts [4, 9, 13].

Other names

Amine oxidase [flavin-containing] AMAO-AMonoamine oxidase type ABRNRS

Inhibition of the oxidative deamination of biogenic and dietary monoamines