Search for autism loci by combined analysis of Autism Genetic Resource Exchange and Finnish families.
OBJECTIVE
Several genome-wide screens have been performed in autism spectrum disorders resulting in the identification of numerous putative susceptibility loci. Analyses of pooled primary data should result in an increased sample size and the different study samples have a potential to strengthen the evidence for some earlier identified loci, reveal novel loci, and even to provide information of the general significance of the locus. The objective of this study was to search for potential susceptibility loci for autism, which are supported by two independent samples.


METHODS
We performed a combined analysis of the primary genome scan data of the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) and Finnish autism samples to reveal susceptibility loci potentially shared by these study samples.


RESULTS
In the initial combined data analysis, the best loci (p < 0.05) were observed at 1p12-q25, 3p24-26, 4q21-31, 5p15-q12, 6q14-21, 7q33-36, 8q22-24, 17p12-q21, and 19p13-q13. The combined analysis of Finnish and AGRE families showed the most promising shared locus on 3p24-26 with nonparametric logarithm of odds (NPL) score of 2.20 (p = 0.011). The combined data analysis did not provide increased linkage evidence for the earlier identified loci on 3q25-27 or 17p12-q21. However, the 17p12-q21 locus remained promising also in the combined sample (NPL(all) =2.38, p = 0.0076).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study of 314 autism families highlights the importance of further analyses on 3p24-26 locus involving comprehensive molecular genetic analyses of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), a positional and functional candidate gene for autism.
Ylisaukko-oja
Tero
T
Department of Molecular Medicine, National Public Health Institute, University of Helsinki, 00251 Helsinki, Finland.
Alarcón
Maricela
M
Cantor
Rita M
RM
Auranen
Mari
M
Vanhala
Raija
R
Kempas
Elli
E
von Wendt
Lennart
L
Järvelä
Irma
I
Geschwind
Daniel H
DH
Peltonen
Leena
L
D000818:Animals; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D005387:Finland; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics
D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin