BHMT G742A and MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphisms and Down syndrome risk in the Brazilian population.

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms underlying meiotic nondisjunction are poorly understood. Attempts to elucidate the causes of Down syndrome (DS) have analyzed the relationship between polymorphism in folate metabolism and DS.

AIM

The role of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1 (MTHFD1) G1958A and betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) G742A polymorphisms in DS risk was investigated.

METHODS

Blood samples were collected from a total of 86 DS mothers and from 161 control mothers. The investigation of the MTHFD1 G1958A polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and by real-time PCR for the BHMT G742A polymorphism.

RESULTS

The median maternal age of case mothers (30.40; 12.9-46.3 years) was significantly higher (p<0.0005) than in the control group (26.60; 15.4-57.9 years). The frequency of BHMT variant genotypes was significantly lower in DS mothers compared with controls (p=0.047). A significant decreased risk for BHMT 742 AA genotype (odds ratio [OR]=0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10-0.93; p=0.037) was observed. Moreover, when the dominant model was applied (BHMT 742GA or 7428AA versus 742GG), there was also a significant decrease in DS risk (OR=0.58; 95% CI: 0.37-0.98; p=0.042). MTHFD1 G1958A genotype frequencies were not significantly altered in DS mothers (p=0.206).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that the polymorphism BHMT G742A may modulate the DS risk in Brazilian mothers.