The brain‐derived neutrophic factor val66met polymorphism and sudden unexpected infant death

Abstract

Findings of hypoxia prior to death and involvement of a dysregulation of the serotonergic network in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may indicate that brain-derived neutrophic factor (BDNF) also is of importance with regard to sudden unexpected infant death. Based on this, the purpose of this study was to investigate the BDNF val66met polymorphism in SIDS cases, cases of infectious death and controls. The polymorphism was investigated in 163 SIDS cases, 34 cases of infectious death and 121 controls, using real-time PCR and fluorescence melting curve analysis. There were no differences in val66met genotype distribution between neither the SIDS cases nor the cases of infectious death and controls (p = 0.95 and p = 0.52, respectively). The study indicates that the val66met polymorphism is not important for sudden unexpected infant death. However, several other SNPs in the BDNF gene, as well as in other genes involved in this pathway, including G-protein, have to be investigated to fully exclude any involvement of BDNF in SIDS.