Positive association of neuroligin-4 gene with nonspecific mental retardation in the Qinba Mountains Region of China.
OBJECTIVE
Neuroligin-4 is essential for proper brain function. Some studies indicate a close relationship between neuroligin-4 and several human psychiatric conditions.


METHODS
The case-control method was used to study the association between nonspecific mental retardation (NSMR) and genetic variants of neuroligin-4 gene (NLGN4). Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: rs5916271, rs7049300, rs6638575, rs3810686, and rs1882260) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP/SSCP method in the NLGN4.


RESULTS
Individual SNP analysis shows significant differences at SNPs rs3810686 and rs1882260 for allele frequency when NSMR cases and controls [odds ratio (OR)=1.589, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.035-2.438, chi2=4.53, df=1, P=0.033; OR=2.050, 95% CI=1.211-3.470, chi2=7.38, df=1, P=0.007, respectively] were compared. Further haplotype analysis indicates that there are two haplotype sets, rs3810686-rs1882260 and rs6638575-rs3810686-rs1882260, which show statistical differences between NSMR cases and controls (chi2=6.79, df=2, global P=0.034; chi2=9.29, df=2, global P=0.0096, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a positive association between the genetic variants of the NLGN4 and NSMR in the Chinese children from Qinba Mountains Region.
Qi
Hongbin
H
College of Life Science, Institute of Population and Health, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Xing
Lianxi
L
Zhang
Kejin
K
Gao
Xiaocai
X
Zheng
Zijian
Z
Huang
Shaoping
S
Guo
Yale
Y
Zhang
Fuchang
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C430845:NLGN4X protein, human