Association between 10 microsatellite markers and nonsyndromic cleft lip palate in the Chilean population.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this case-control study was to evaluate the possible association between nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCLP) and 10 genetic markers in four chromosomal regions in the admixed Spanish-Amerindian Chilean population.


METHODS
Study participants included 56 patients with NSCLP identified and interviewed for positive family history during the course of clinical examinations at different rehabilitation centers in the cities of Santiago and Talca, Chile. A control group of 59 normal individuals without known familial antecedents of clefting was obtained from blood bank donors of the University Hospital, University of Chile. Cases and controls belonged to low- to low-middle socioeconomic strata.


RESULTS
Ten markers from chromosome 4p, 4q, 6p, 17q, and 19q were assessed (MSX1, D4S175, D4S192, F13A1, EDN1, D6S89, D6S105, D6S109, D17S579, BCL3). Four of them showed significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations in controls, according to the exact test (D4S192, BCL3, F13A1, and D6S89). The case-control comparison by means of the CLUMP program showed significant differences only in BCL3, and D6S109 almost reached statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the genetic regions with positive results in Caucasian populations may not be involved in NSCLP in Chile, regardless of the positive evidence for the candidate region on chromosome 19. Similar findings have been reported recently in the Chinese population.
Human Genetics Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. rblanco@machi.med.uchile.cl
Rafael
R
Blanco
José
J
Suazo
José Luis
JL
Santos
Mónica
M
Paredes
Hsiao
H
Sung
Hernán
H
Carreño
Lilian
L
Jara
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002677:Chile; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000235:genetics*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000235:genetics*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics