Neuropediatrics 2014; 45(04): 234-239
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1364103
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Association between VANGL1 Gene Polymorphisms and Neural Tube Defects

Chunquan Cai
1   Department of Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, China
2   Pediatric Clinical Institute of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Ouyan Shi
3   School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Baiqi Wang
4   School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
5   Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Baoxing Chang
3   School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Rui Yang
5   Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Yinsong Wang
5   Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Fang Wang
5   Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
,
Changhong Shen
6   Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

06 March 2013

13 November 2013

Publication Date:
09 January 2014 (online)

Abstract

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common, severe congenital malformations. The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the VANGL1 gene and NTDs in a Han population of Northern China was principally studied. Missense single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs4839469 c.346G > A p.Ala116Thr and rs34059106 c.1040A > C p.Glu347Ala) of the VANGL1 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing methods in 135 NTD cases and 135 normal controls. Genotype and allele frequency distribution was calculated, and the spatial structure of the protein was predicted. The results showed that the VANGL1 gene sequence at the rs4839469 locus exhibited Ala116Thr and Ala116Pro polymorphisms, and allele and genotype distributions were significantly different (p = 0.036 and 0.010) between the case and control group. Genotype GC was newly discovered, and its odds ratio value versus GG genotype was 10.241; the α helix fragment of the Ala116Pro mutant was significantly shortened compared with wild type. The rs34059106 site showed alleles of A and did not display C alleles in the two groups. Therefore, the rs4839469 allele of VANGL1 was obviously associated with NTDs. And genotype GC increased the risk of NTDs, changes in the three-dimensional protein structure may have impacted its biological functions, and the rs34059106 polymorphism had no significant correlation with NTDs.

Note

C.C. and O.S. contributed equally to this work.


 
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