Genetic and epigenetic gene variants in the mothers of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affected children as possible risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders.

To assess promoter methylation levels, gene expression levels and 677C>T/1298A>C genotype and allele frequencies of the gene in 45 mothers of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affected child/children (ADHDM) and compare it with age matched healthy control mothers (HCM). : High resolution melting analysis, quantitative real time PCR and PCR-RFLP were performed to assess methylation, gene expression and genotyping, respectively. Significance between ADHDM and HCM was assessed by linear (methylation and gene expression) and logistic regression (genotypes). gene expression levels were significantly higher in the ADHDM compared with the HCM group (adj-p < 7.7E-04). No differences in promoter methylation level and 677C>T/1298A>C genotype frequencies were detected between ADHDM and HCM.  We observed increased expression levels not resulting from promoter methylation changes in ADHDM respect to HMC, potentially contributing to the ADHD condition in their children and deserving further investigation.