title: The effect of C677T mutation of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene and plasma folate level on hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with meningomyelocele.
abstract: To evaluate the relationship between genotypes of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), and plasma folate and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in meningomyelocele, 21 Korean patients, 47 of their family members, and 43 healthy controls were recruited. The presence of C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene and plasma concentrations of folate/Hcy were investigated. The genotype frequency of C677T mutation was not higher in study groups (patients and family members). The plasma folate concentration showed no difference either between the study and the control groups or among MTHFR-genotypic groups. The plasma Hcy concentration in homozygotes in the study group was higher than that in the control group, and higher than that in heterozygotes when plasma folate levels were low (P=0.006). Although neither MTHFR genotype nor plasma folate/Hcy level plays a definite part on its own, they seem to have an additive effect on the occurrence of meningomyelocele. Our results support folate supplementation for the prevention of hyperhomocysteinemia and meningomyelocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP) / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP)