ACP1 and offspring sex ratio in smoking puerperae: a study at population level.
BACKGROUND
Data from previous study by our group suggest that in smoking women sex ratio of offspring is higher in newborns carrying ACP1C allele than in other ACP1 genotypes, suggesting that differences observed among human population concerning the effect of smoking may depend in part on this genetic factor.


OBJECTIVE
In order to further explore this issue we have studied another population and have analysed the relationship between sex ratio and ACP1C gene frequency at population level.


METHODS
The analysis includes 719 consecutive births from Central Italy considered in a previous paper and 5510 consecutive births from Sardinia. Data from English and Japanese populations have also been considered in the analysis.


RESULTS
Among newborns not carrying ACP1C there is a decrease of SR among the offspring of smoking mothers, while among newborns carrying the ACP1C allele there is an increase of SR among the offspring of smoking mothers relative to non-smoking mothers. Considering Sardinian, Italian, English and Japanese population there is a linear positive relationship between C allele frequency and SR in smoking mothers.


CONCLUSIONS
The present observation suggests an interaction between smoking and ACP1 regarding their effects on sex ratio, by which the presence of the ACP1C allele appears to counteract the effect of smoking. This suggests that genetic background may modify the effects of toxic environmental factors on gamete production and functionality and/or on intrauterine survival.
Gloria-Bottini
F
F
Department of Biopathology and Imaging Diagnostics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. gloria@med.uniroma2.it
Meloni
G F
GF
Grassi
S
S
Bottini
N
N
Saccucci
P
P
Giarrizzo
G F
GF
Magrini
A
A
Bergamaschi
A
A
Bottini
E
E
D000328:Adult; D017931:DNA Primers; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012907:Smoking
D017931:DNA Primers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C490429:ACP1 protein, human; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases