[Associations of genetic polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene and the GSTT1 gene with low birth weight in neonates].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in the microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene (EPHX1) and the glutathione S-transferase theta1 gene (GSTT1) are associated with low birth weight in neonates.


METHODS
Using standard questionnaires, 246 singleton live born mother-neonates pairs (73 cases were mother-low birth weight neonate pairs and 173 controls were mother-non low birth weight neonate pairs) were investigated by the trained field workers with case-control study at the hospital in Anqing, Anhui Province, China between 1998 and 1999. A total of 246 neonates were genotyped for genetic polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene and the GSTT1 gene by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association of the genetic polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene and the GSTT1 gene with neonatal low birth weight, adjusting for maternal age, education, parity, neonatal sex and gestational age.


RESULTS
EPHX1 His139His homozygote was not associated with low birth weight among neonates, compared with EPHX1 His139Arg heterozygote/Arg139Arg homozygote before and after adjustment confounders. GSTT1 absent genotype group also was not associated with low birth weight among neonates, compared with GSTT1 present genotype group before and after adjustment confounders. When both EPHX1 139 polymorphism and GSTT1 polymorphism were considered, a significant reduction in birth weight was found among neonates with EPHX1 His139His homozygote and GSTT1 absent genotype (OR=3.46, P=0.035).


CONCLUSIONS
The combination between genetic polymorphisms in the EPHX1 gene and the GSTT1 gene in neonates is significantly associated with neonatal low birth weight.
Liang
Hong-ye
HY
Department of Medical Genetics, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing 100083, China.
Chen
Da-fang
DF
Zhang
Tao
T
Yang
Fan
F
Wang
Liu-liu
LL
Chen
Li
L
Wu
Bai-yan
BY
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases