MTHFR和CBS基因多态性与低出生体重的关系研究

目的探讨母亲亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶（MTHFR）基因C677T、胱硫醚β-合酶（CBS）基因T833C与子代低出生体重发生之间的关系。方法运用聚合酶链反应（PCR）-限制性片段长度多态性与PCR-扩增阻滞突变体系技术分别检测母亲的MTHFR、CBS基因型,对MTHFR基因型、CBS基因型、基因型的交互作用与低出生体重的关系进行分析。结果MTHFR基因突变型、CBS基因突变型对低出生体重影响无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,但MTHFR基因突变型与CBS基因突变型对低出生体重的影响存在交互作用（OR=3．155,95％CI：1．229—8．528）。结论母亲MTHFR基因C677T、CBS基因T833C,与子代低出生体重发生无关,但MTHFR基因突变型与CBS基因突变型存在交互作用,其能增加子代低出生体重发生的危险。     

MTHFR基因多态性与急性白血病易感性的研究

目的 研究汉族儿童亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,MTHFR)基因多态性与急性淋巴细胞白血病(acute lymphoblastic leukemia,ALL)以及急性髓细胞白血病(acute myeloid leukemia,AML)发病风险的相关性.方法 对87例ALL患儿、22例AML患儿和120名对照儿童用逆转录-聚合酶链反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳结合DNA测序技术进行MTHFR 677C/T和1298A/C基因的多态性筛查.结果 MTHFR 677CT基因型的个体AML易感性降低(OR=0.23,95％CI:0.07～0.79).未发现MTHFR 1298A/C各基因型与ALL和AML发病风险间存在显著关联.MTHFR 677TT/1298AA和677CC/1298AC基因型ALL发病风险增高(OR=3.78,95％ CI:1.38～10.40;OR=3.17,95％CI:1.18～8.53),677CT/1298AA基因型者AML风险降低(OR=0.23,95％ CI∶0.06～0.97).结论 MTHFR基因677位碱基变异可能是儿童AML遗传易感因素.     

北京地区增补叶酸预防神经管缺陷项目数据分析

目的评价北京市运行增补叶酸预防神经管缺陷（neuraltubedefects,NTDs）项目运行情况及效果。方法对北京市2010年～2012年孕产妇分娩及出生缺陷监测、围孕期妇女领取及服用叶酸情况的有关数据进行相关的分析。结果北京市户籍孕产妇中NTDs发生率呈现持续下降的趋势,非户籍孕产妇中NTDs的发生率呈现波动趋势且明显高于本市户籍人口;不同人群服药依从性不同。结论北京市增补叶酸预防神经管缺陷工作取得显著成效;应加大对非户籍人口、近郊人群的管理力度及进一步有针对性地开展健康教育,充分起到降低出生缺陷发生的作用。     

5，10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因C677T多态性与先天性心脏病关系的Meta分析

目的对5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶（MTHFR）基因C677T多态性与先天性心脏病（CHD）的相关性研究进行Meta分析。方法制定原始文献的纳入标准及检索策略,检索PubMed、EMBASE、Ovid、Springer、中国期刊全文数据库、维普中文科技期刊数据库、万方数据库和中国生物医学文献数据库（1994年1月至2009年1月）中的文献,收集MTHFR基因C677T多态性与CHD相关性的病例一对照研究,剔除不符合要求的文献,应用RevMan4．2软件进行Meta分析,得出合并后的OR值及其95％CI。结果共18篇文献符合纳入标准进入Meta分析。数据合并结果显示,子代MTHFR基因677位点TT／CC和（TT＋CT）／CC与CHD易感性有统计学意义,OR值（95％CI）分别为1．55（1．24～1．93）和1．23（1．06～1．42）,P〈0．05;子代MTHFR基因677位点CT／CC与CHD易感性无统计学意义,OR值（95％CI）为1．15（0．99—1．34）,P〉0．05。父亲MTHFR基因677位点TT／CC和（TT＋CT）／CC与子代CHD的易感性有统计学意义,OR值（95％CI）分别为1．84（1．23～2．74）和1．33（1．04～1．71）,P〈0．05;父亲MTHFR基因677位点CT／CC与子代CHD易感性无统计学意义,OR值（95％CI）为1．25（0．96～1．62）,P〉0．05。母亲MTHFR基因677位点TWCC、CT／CC和（TT＋CT）／CC与子代CHD易感性均无统计学意义,OR值（95％CI）分别为1．20（0．92-1．56）、1．03（0．86～1．24）和1．07（0．90—1．27）,P均〉0．05。传递不平衡分析未发现在CHD核心家系的MTHFR基因677位点存在突变的传递不平衡现象,OR值为0．90（95％CI：0．79～1．12）,P〉0．05。结论子代MTHFR基因677位点TT和TT＋CT为CHD的危险因素之一;父亲MTHFR基因677位点TT和TT＋CT是子代CHD的危险因素之一;母亲MTHFR基因677位点多态性与子代CHD的发生无关。     

蛋氨酸合酶基因A275 6G位点多态性与非综合征型唇腭裂的关联性研究

目的 研究蛋氨酸合酶基因(methionine synthase,MS)A2756G位点多态性与非综合征型唇腭裂(nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate,NSCL/P)的关联性.方法 采用PCR-限制性片段长度多态性技术检测97个NSCL/P病例组核心家庭和104个对照家庭的MS基因A2756G位点的多态性;用人群关联研究分析、病例组核心家庭的传递不平衡检测(transmission disequilibrium test,TDT)、单体型的相对危险度分析(haplotype-based haplotype relative risk,HHRR)、家庭为基础的关联研究(family-based association tests,FBAT)等统计分析.结果 子代、父亲、母亲病例组和对照组之间基因型和等位基因的分布差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);本研究中在子代和母亲组中未检出GG基因型,AG基因型相对于AA基因型的比值比OR和95%CI分别为子代1.78(0.74～4.34)、父亲0.80(0.36～1.79)、母亲1.26(0.54～2.93),G相对于A基因的OR和95%CI分别为子代1.70(0.78～3.73)、父亲0.88(0.49～1.75)、母亲1.23(0.59～2.60),携带有突变基因G并不能增加患NSCL/P的危险.病例组核心家庭分析,TDT分析χ2=0.034,P>0.05;HHRR分析χ2=0.03,P>0.05;FBAT分析Z=0.186,P>0.05.结论 结果未显示出MS基因A2756G位点多态性和NSCL/P发生的相关性,还待进一步研究.     

TRIB3基因+251A/G多态性与高血压患者颈动脉粥样硬化的关系

目的 探讨TRIB3基因多态性与颈动脉粥样硬化的关系及可能的机制.方法 采用彩色多普勒超声诊断仪及聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性( polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism,PCR-RFLP)法对随机选取高血压患者200例,正常对照200例进行检测.结果 与对照组相比,高血压组平均内膜-中层厚度(intima- media thickness,IMT)明显升高(t=39.223,P＜0.01);与AA基因型携带者相比,GG基因型携带者平均IMT增大(t=22.235,P＜0.001);IMT增厚危险因素Logistic回归分析,AG+ GG基因型进入回归方程(OR=2.116,95％CI:1.045～4.721,P=0.031),腰围、收缩压和空腹血糖升高是IMT增厚的危险因素.结论 携带TRIB3基因+251A/G多态性G等位基因的高血压患者具有颈动脉粥样硬化的易患性.     

母亲叶酸代谢相关基因多态性与唐氏综合征发生的关系

目的研究叶酸代谢相关基因多态性在浙南地区汉族妇女中的分布,探讨其与唐氏综合征(Down’s Syn-drome,DS)发生的关系。方法对84例已生育DS患儿的母亲(观察组)和120例生育过正常儿童的母亲(对照组)采用PCR扩增及DNA测序法检测亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(MTHFR)基因C677T、A1298C位点;甲硫氨酸合成酶(MTR)基因A2756G位点单核苷酸多态性。结果 MTHFR 677 T基因及CT、TT基因型、MTHFR 1298 C基因及AC、CC基因型、MTR 2756 G基因及AG基因型频率观察组与对照组比较均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。三个位点基因型频率联合分析两组也不存在统计学意义(OR=0.692,P>0.05)。结论浙南地区汉族妇女MTHFR C677T、FTHFR A1298C、MTR A2756G基因型不是DS发生的风险因素;三个基因型的联合频率也未见增加DS发生的风险。     

5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶基因多态性及补充叶酸与非综合征性唇腭裂的相关性

背景：对于5, 10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(5, 10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR)基因C677T位点多态性与唇腭裂相关性的研究国内外结果不一,未见结合干预因素叶酸影响的相关报道。 目的：探讨河南地区汉族人群MTHFR基因C677T位点多态性及补充叶酸与非综合征性唇腭裂的发病关系。 方法：选取2008-09/2010-03在郑州大学第一附属医院及郑州市第一人民医院整形外科就诊的非综合征性唇腭裂患者110例,采用PCR-RFLP法检测外周血中MTHFR基因C677T位点基因型并与40例健康对照比较频数差异。同时结合母孕期是否补充叶酸进行统计学分析。 结果与结论：病例组和对照组C677T基因型及等位基因频率比较差异均具有显著性意义(P < 0.01),且有家族史的患者TT基因型及T等位基因频率高于无家族史患者(P < 0.05)。对母孕期是否补充叶酸进行比较,发现非综合征性唇腭裂与叶酸摄入呈负相关(χ²=4.304,r=-0.169,P  < 0.05)。结果提示MTHFR基因C677T位点突变与河南汉族人群非综合征性唇腭裂的发生相关,母孕期补充叶酸能降低非综合征性唇腭裂的发病风险。     

DNMT1和DNMT3B基因多态性与食管癌发病风险的关联分析

目的 探讨DNMT1基因多态性位点(rs16999593,rs2228611)和DNMT3B基因多态性位点(rs2424908)的基因型与食管癌及其病理参数的关联.方法 采用病例对照研究,使用MassARRAY检测技术对258例食管癌患者和260例健康对照的3个多态性位点基因型分布进行分析.采用Logistic回归模型分析各基因型与食管癌发生的关系并比较不同基因型与食管癌病理参数的关系.结果 DNMT1基因rs16999593位点TC基因型(OR =0.69,95％ CI:0.47～1.00)和rs2228611位点GA基因型(OR =0.67,95％ CI:0.46 ～0.98)与食管癌的低风险相关,rs16999593 TC、CC基因型与食管癌分化程度相关(中分化:TC vs.TT:OR =0.53,95％ CI:0.33 ～0.86;低分化:CC vs.TT:OR=2.79,95％ CI:1.12～6.91),rs2228611 GA基因型与高分化食管癌(GA vs.GG:OR=0.47,95％ CI:0.25 ～0.88)和无周围淋巴结转移(GA vs.GG:OR=0.62,95％ CI:0.39 ～0.98)有关,DNMT3B基因rs2424908 CC基因型与肿瘤Ⅲ～Ⅳ分期(CC vs.TT:OR=0.38,95％CI:O.15～0.92)及远端淋巴结转移(CC vs.TT:OR =0.18,95％ CI:0.40 ～0.80)相关.结论 本研究发现rs16999593和rs2228611位点与食管癌的发生及分化程度相关,rs2228611和rs2424908位点和淋巴结转移相关,rs2424908位点和肿瘤分期有相关性.     

叶酸代谢相关基因多态性及血浆同型半胱氨酸与唐氏综合征关系研究

目的研究叶酸代谢相关的亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶(methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase,MTH-FR)基因多态性与唐氏综合征(Down syndrome,DS)发生的关系。方法选择100例生育过DS患儿的汉族母亲及100名相匹配的正常对照组母亲,PCR-限制性片段长度多态性方法检测MTHFR677C/T的基因型,化学发光法检测血浆中同型半胱氨酸(homocysteine,HCY)的水平。结果病例组MTHFR677T等位基因的频率较对照组增高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.002);杂合基因型CT的比值比为2.12(95%CI:1.14～3.94);而纯合基因型TT的比值比为3.43(95%CI:1.41～8.36)。平均血浆HCY浓度在病例组[(9.04±3.85)μmol/L]较对照组[(6.53±2.06)μmol/L]增高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。MTHFR677位点一个和(或)两个等位基因C→T的变异,不论在病例组还是对照组均可引起HCY水平的显著增加(P<0.01)。同为MTHFR677CC基因型,病例组中的血浆HCY浓度仍较对照组增高(P<0.01),这种增加不依赖于MTHFR的基因型。结论血浆HCY和叶酸代谢相关基因的遗传多态性是汉族妇女生育DS患儿的危险因素。     

Maternal periconceptional vitamin use, genetic variation of infant reduced folate carrier (A80G), and risk of spina bifida

Women who consume folic acid in early pregnancy reduced their risks for delivering offspring with neural tube defects (NTDs). The underlying process by which folic acid facilitated this risk reduction is unknown. Investigating genetic variation that influences cellular absorption, transport, and metabolism of folate will help fill this data gap. We focused our studies on a candidate gene that is involved in folate transport, the reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1). Using data from a California population-based case control interview study (1989-1991 birth cohorts), we investigated whether spina bifida risk was influenced by an interaction between a polymorphism of infant RFC1 at nucleotide 80 (A80G) and maternal periconceptional use of vitamins containing folic acid. Allelic variants of RFC1 were determined by genotyping 133 live-born spina bifida case infants and 188 control infants. The percentages of case infants with the A80/A80, G80/G80, and G80/A80 genotypes were 27.2%, 28.0%, and 44.7%, respectively. The percentages of control infants were similar: 26.1%, 29.3%, and 44.7%. Odds ratios of 1.0 (95% confidence interval 0.5-2.0) for the G80/G80 genotype and 1.1 (0.6-2.0) for the G80/A80 genotype were observed relative to the A80/A80 genotype. Among mothers who did not use vitamins, spina bifida risk was 2.4 (0.8-6.9) for infants with genotype G80/G80 compared to those with A80/A80 genotype. Among mothers who did use vitamins, the risk was 0.5 (0.1-3.1) for infants with the G80/G80 genotype. Although this study did not find an increased spina bifida risk for infants who were heterozygous or homozygous for RFC1 A80G, it did reveal modest evidence for a gene-nutrient interaction between infant homozygosity for the RFC1 G80/G80 genotype and maternal periconceptional intake of vitamins containing folic acid on the risk of spina bifida.     

Homocysteine remethylation enzyme polymorphisms and increased risks for neural tube defects

Folic acid supplementation can effectively reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs); however, the mechanism underlying this beneficial effect remains unclear. Recent evidence suggests that certain folate pathway genes, as well as those related to homocysteine metabolism might be contributing to this effect. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether gene polymorphisms of methionine synthase (MTR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) are involved in the risk for NTDs, specifically spina bifida. We detected MTR A2756G and MTRR A66G polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP analysis in a group of NTD infants, their mothers and normal controls. We found that infants with the MTRR mutant genotype had a 2.6-fold higher risk of NTDs when compared to the AA genotype (OR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.3-5.3). Mothers with the MTRR mutant genotype also had a 1.9-fold higher risk of having an NTD baby compared to AA genotype (OR = 1.9, 95%CI = 1.1-3.1). Infants who carry mutant alleles for both MTRR and MTR had exceptionally elevated NTD risks, with odds ratios of 5.1 compared to infants with the wild type genotype at both loci (AA + AA) (OR = 5.1, 95%CI = 1.7-15.4). A comparable result was observed in the mothers of NTD cases (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.0-4.7). Our results indicate that MTRR and MTR genes may interact to increase the infants' NTD risks. These results did not appear to be influenced by maternal periconceptional folic acid intake. However,the sample size of this study was limited, and a larger population study is needed to pursue these initial observations.     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and the risk of anencephaly in Mexico

The precise etiology of neural tube defects (NTDs) is not known. There is some evidence that mutations in MTHFR gene provide susceptibility to NTDs in some populations; however, other studies have not found this association. One of the problems with previous studies is that they treat NTDs as a homogeneous group, when specific defects could have different etiologies. We conducted a case-control study specifically for anencephaly, based on the Mexican Epidemiological Surveillance System of Neural Tube Defects to evaluate its association with maternal MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C polymorphisms, in three states with high frequencies of NTDs: Puebla, Estado de México and Guerrero. We interviewed and collected blood samples from 118 case mothers and 112 control mothers. The questionnaire included information on their reproductive history, socioeconomic characteristics, prenatal care, tobacco and alcohol use, presence of chronic diseases, acute illnesses and fever, consumption of multivitamins and drugs during the periconceptional period. After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk from the mutated homozygous mothers (677TT genotype) was significantly higher than that from mothers with 677CC genotype (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.29-7.73); in the case of the heterozygous mothers, an increased risk of anencephaly was observed, even though this was not statistically significant (OR 1.81 95% CI 0.78-4.25). The association found between maternal 677TT genotype and anencephaly and the elevated presence of the 677T allele among Mexican women of fertile age urges intensifying folic acid supplementation which has proved to modify this genetic risk in other populations.     

Genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase, folate levels in red blood cells, and risk of neural tube defects.

Folic acid administration to women in the periconceptional period reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in their offspring. A polymorphism in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), 677C-->T, is the first genetic risk factor for NTDs in man identified at the molecular level. The gene encoding another folate-dependent enzyme, methionine synthase (MTR), has recently been cloned and a common variant, 2756A-->G, has been identified. We assessed genotypes and folate status in 56 patients with spina bifida, 62 mothers of patients, 97 children without NTDs (controls), and 90 mothers of controls, to determine the impact of these factors on NTD risk. Twenty percent of cases and 18% of case mothers were homozygous for the MTHFR polymorphism, compared to 11% of controls and 11% of control mothers, indicating that the mutant genotype conferred an increased risk for NTDs. The risk was further increased if both mother and child had this genotype. The MTR polymorphism was associated with a decreased O.R. (O.R.); none of the cases and only 10% of controls were homozygous for this variant. Red blood cell (RBC) folate was lower in cases and in case mothers, compared to their respective controls. Having a RBC folate in the lowest quartile of the control distribution was associated with an O.R. of 2.56 (95% CI 1.28-5.13) for being a case and of 3.05 (95% CI 1.54-6.03) for being a case mother. The combination of homozygous mutant MTHFR genotype and RBC folate in the lowest quartile conferred an O.R. for being a NTD case of 13.43 (CI 2.49-72.33) and an O.R. for having a child with NTD of 3.28 (CI 0.84-12.85). We propose that the genetic-nutrient interaction--MTHFR polymorphism and low folate status--is associated with a greater risk for NTDs than either variable alone.     

Analysis of seven maternal polymorphisms of genes involved in homocysteine/folate metabolism and risk of Down syndrome offspring.

PURPOSE: We present a case-control study of seven polymorphisms of six genes involved in homocysteine/folate pathway as risk factors for Down syndrome. Gene-gene/allele-allele interactions, haplotype analysis and the association with age at conception were also evaluated. METHODS: We investigated 94 Down syndrome-mothers and 264 control-women from Campania, Italy. RESULTS: Increased risk of Down syndrome was associated with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 1298C allele (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.02-2.10), the MTHFR 1298CC genotype (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.06-4.96), the reduced-folate-carrier1 (RFC1) 80G allele (1.48; 95% CI 1.05-2.10) and the RFC1 80 GG genotype (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.03-4.07). Significant associations were found between maternal age at conception > or = 34 years and either the MTHFR 1298C or the RFC 180G alleles. Positive interactions were found for the following genotype-pairs: MTHFR 677TT and 1298CC/CA, 1298CC/CA and RFC1 80 GG/GA, RFC1 80 GG and methylenetetrahydrofolate-dehydrogenase 1958 AA. The 677-1298 T-C haplotype at the MTHFR locus was also a risk factor for Down syndrome (P = 0.0022). The methionine-synthase-reductase A66G, the methionine-synthase A2756G and the cystathionine-beta-synthase 844ins68 polymorphisms were not associated with increased risk of Down syndrome. CONCLUSION: These results point to a role of maternal polymorphisms of homocysteine/folate pathway as risk factors for Down syndrome.     

Folate gene polymorphisms and the risk of Down syndrome pregnancies in young Italian women

Maternal impairments in folate metabolism and elevated homocysteinemia are known risk factors for having a child with Down syndrome (DS) at a young age. The 80G>A polymorphism of the reduced folate carrier gene (RFC-1) has been recently demonstrated to affect plasma folate and homocysteine levels, alone or in combination with the 677C>T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. We performed the present study on 80 Italian mothers of DS individuals, aged less than 35 at conception, and 111 Italian control mothers, to study the role of the RFC-1 80G>A, MTHFR 677C>T, and MTHFR 1298A>C genotypes to the risk of a DS offspring at a young maternal age. When polymorphisms were considered alone, both allele and genotype frequencies did not significantly differ between DS mothers and control mothers. However, the combined MTHFR677TT/RFC-1 80GG genotype was borderline associated with an increased risk (OR 6 (CI 95%: 1.0-35.9), P = 0.05), and to be MTHF1298AA/RFC-1 80(GA or AA) was inversely associated with the risk (OR 0.36 (CI 95%: 0.14-0.96), P = 0.04). Present results seem to indicate that none of the RFC-1 80G>A, MTHFR 677C>T, and MTHFR 1298A>C polymorphisms is an independent risk factor for a DS offspring at a young maternal age; however, a role for the combined MTHFR/RFC-1 genotypes in the risk of DS pregnancies among young Italian women cannot be excluded.     

Genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase,folate levels in red blood cells,and risk of neural tube defects

Folic acid administration to women in the periconceptional period reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in their offspring. A polymorphism in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), 677C→12;T, is the first genetic risk factor for NTDs in man identified at the molecular level. The gene encoding another folate-dependent enzyme, methionine synthase (MTR), has recently been cloned and a common variant, 2756A→12;G, has been identified. We assessed genotypes and folate status in 56 patients with spina bifida, 62 mothers of patients, 97 children without NTDs (controls), and 90 mothers of controls, to determine the impact of these factors on NTD risk. Twenty percent of cases and 18% of case mothers were homozygous for the MTHFR polymorphism, compared to 11% of controls and 11% of control mothers, indicating that the mutant genotype conferred an increased risk for NTDs. The risk was further increased if both mother and child had this genotype. The MTR polymorphism was associated with a decreased O.R. (O.R.); none of the cases and only 10% of controls were homozygous for this variant. Red blood cell (RBC) folate was lower in cases and in case mothers, compared to their respective controls. Having a RBC folate in the lowest quartile of the control distribution was associated with an O.R. of 2.56 (95% CI 1.28–5.13) for being a case and of 3.05 (95% CI 1.54–6.03) for being a case mother. The combination of homozygous mutant MTHFR genotype and RBC folate in the lowest quartile conferred an O.R. for being a NTD case of 13.43 (CI 2.49–72.33) and an O.R. for having a child with NTD of 3.28 (CI 0.84–12.85). We propose that the genetic-nutrient interaction—MTHFR polymorphism and low folate status—is associated with a greater risk for NTDs than either variable alone. Am. J. Med. Genet. 84:151–157, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Confirmation of the R653Q polymorphism of the trifunctional C1-synthase enzyme as a maternal risk for neural tube defects in the Irish population

The risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) is known to have a significant genetic component that could act through either the NTD patient and/or maternal genotype. The success of folic acid supplementation in NTD prevention has focused attention on polymorphisms within folate-related genes. We previously identified the 1958G>A (R653Q) polymorphism of the trifunctional enzyme MTHFD1 (methylenetetrahydrofolate-dehydrogenase, methenyltetrahydrofolate-cyclohydrolase, formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase; often referred to as 'C1 synthase') as a maternal risk for NTDs, but this association remains to be verified in a separate study to rule out a chance finding. To exclude this possibility, we genotyped an independent sample of mothers with a history of an NTD-affected pregnancy derived from the same Irish population. In this sample there was a significant excess of 1958AA homozygote mothers of NTD cases (n=245) compared to controls (n=770). The direction and magnitude of risk (odds ratio 1.49 (1.07-2.09), P=0.019) is consistent with our earlier finding. Sequencing of the MTHFD1 gene revealed that this association is not being driven by another common variant within the coding region. We have established that the MTHFD1 1958G>A polymorphism has a significant role in influencing a mother's risk of having an NTD-affected pregnancy in the Irish population.     

Construction of a high resolution linkage disequilibrium map to evaluate common genetic variation in TP53 and neural tube defect risk in an Irish population

Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the etiology of neural tube defects (NTDs). While periconceptional folic acid supplementation is known to significantly reduce the risk of NTDs, folate metabolic pathway related factors do not account for all NTDs. Evidence from mouse models indicates that the tumor protein p53 (TP53) is involved in implantation and normal neural tube development. To determine whether genetic variation in TP53 might contribute to NTD risk in humans, we constructed a high resolution linkage disequilibrium (LD) map of the TP53 genomic region based on genotyping 21 markers in an Irish population. We found that nine of these variants can be used to capture the majority of common variation in the TP53 genomic region. In contrast, the 3-marker haplotype commonly reported in the TP53 literature offers limited coverage of the variation in the gene. We used the expanded set of polymorphisms to measure the influence of TP53 on NTDs using both case-control and family based tests of association. We also assayed a functional variant in the p53 regulator MDM2 (rs2279744). Alleles of three noncoding TP53 markers were associated with NTD risk. A case effect was seen with the GG genotype of rs1625895 in intron 6 (OR = 1.37 [1.04-1.79], P = 0.02). A maternal effect was seen with the 135/135 genotype of the intron 1 VNTR (OR = 1.86 [1.16-2.96], P = 0.01) and the TT genotype of rs1614984 (RR = 0.58 [0.37-0.91], P = 0.02). As multiple comparisons were made, these cannot be considered definitive positive findings and additional investigation is required.     

Maternal MTR genotype contributes to the risk of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in the Polish population

The aetiology of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is very complex. It has been shown that polymorphic variants of genes encoding key proteins of folate and methionine metabolism might be important maternal risk factors of having a child with this craniofacial anomaly. Therefore, in our study, mothers with CL/P children as well as control mothers were examined for prevalence of polymorphisms of genes that encode methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase (MTR), 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (MTHFD1) and reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1). We observed that there were no statistical differences in allele and genotype frequencies of MTHFR c.677C>T, MTHFD1 c.1958G>A and RFC1 c.80G>A between mothers who had children with CL/P and control mothers. However, mothers with MTR c.2756AG or GG genotype displayed a 2.195-fold increased risk of having a child with CL/P (95% CI 1.189–4.050, p = 0.011). The mechanism by which polymorphic transition of MTR gene might increase the maternal risk of having CL/P progeny is unknown. Our observations are consistent with a significant role of the methyl cycle in the development of craniofacial structures in humans.