Genetic variants of ZNF385B and COMT are associated with autism spectrum disorder in the Bangladeshi children

Abstract

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an intense, highly heritable complex neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Genetic association studies have demonstrated the correlation of different genetic polymorphisms with ASD. We investigated the contribution of genetic variants in ZNF385B (rs11885327 and rs1964081) and COMT (rs165774) genes with Bangladeshi ASD children in this study. Material and methodsA total of 216 ASD cases and 216 controls were recruited in this case-control study, and the association of rs11885327, rs1964081, and rs165774 were examined by PCR–RFLP method. ResultsFor rs11885327, CC genotype, dominant model, and ‘C’ allele were significantly associated with ASD (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.11–3.23, p = 0.019; OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.01–2.25, p = 0.043; OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.07–1.84, p = 0.013, respectively). After Bonferroni correction (p < 0.017), only ‘C’ allele remained significant. In the case of rs1964081, GG genotype (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.07–3.57, p = 0.029) and ‘G’ allele (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.02–1.76, p = 0.037) showed a significantly elevated risk for the development of ASD but the significance did not exist after Bonferroni correction. For rs165774, all genetic models were associated with an increased risk of ASD except AG genotype (AA vs. GG: OR = 7.68, 95% CI = 3.89–15.15, p < 0.0001; dominant model: OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.55–3.36, p < 0.0001; recessive model: OR = 6.54, 95% CI = 3.40–12.57, p < 0.0001; A allele: OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.88–3.39, p < 0.0001). In all cases, the results were statistically significant and the significance remained after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.017). Haplotyping analysis of rs11885327 and rs1964081 revealed that TA haplotype reduced the risk risk of ASD. ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that rs11885327 and rs1964081 of ZNF385B and rs165774 of COMT genes contribute to the susceptibility of ASD in the Bangladeshi children.