Association study of polymorphisms at A66G (rs1801394) of MTRR gene and autism spectrum disorders in a Kurdish population

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are distinguished by the inability in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior pattern. One of the etiologic factors of the disease is believed to be methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A66G polymorphism, which participates in homocysteine (Hcy)/folate metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore the link between polymorphism A66G (rs1801394) of MTRR and susceptibility of Kurdish autistic children to develop ASD in Iraq. In this study, 200 samples were included and divided into two equal groups: 100 autistic and 100 control children. After extraction of genomic DNA, the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) was performed. Our results showed that a significant association between heterozygote and homozygote variants (AG vs. AA: OR = 3.333, 95%CI: 1.723 to 6.449; P = 0.0004) and (GG vs. AA: OR = 2.500, 95%CI: 1.362 to 18.35; P = 0.021) respectively, when compared with wild homozygote. Also, this study demonstrated a statistical difference in the frequencies of the two alleles in MTRR A66G (G vs. A: OR = 1.857, 95%CI: 1.243 to 2.775; P = 0.003). Our study revealed that the polymorphism of MTRR A66G genotypes and alleles could influence the ASD susceptibility among Kurdish children in Erbil, Iraq.