COMT gene polymorphism and corpus callosum morphometry in preterm born adults.
BACKGROUND
Preterm birth is associated with a range of neurodevelopmental deficits, including corpus callosum (CC) abnormalities, which persist into late adolescence and early adulthood. A common single-nucleotide polymorphism in the catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) gene (Val158Met) is associated with cognition and brain structure and may play a role in neurodevelopment. It is not known whether this polymorphism is associated with CC morphometry in individuals born preterm.


METHODS
Structural MRI scans were acquired in 33 adults born very preterm (before 33 weeks' gestation) and 29 healthy controls. DNA was collected and COMT Val158Met polymorphism status determined using standard available assays. The mid-sagittal area of four antero-posterior subdivisions of the CC was measured. The effect of COMT Val158Met polymorphism on cross-sectional CC areas was studied using multivariate analysis and generalised linear models, adjusted for the effects of the clinical sample group (preterm vs. control), age and sex.


RESULTS
The COMT Val/Val homozygous genotype was observed to be significantly associated with reduced size of the total corpus callosum, and this relationship was present for the anterior, midposterior and posterior quarters of the CC.


CONCLUSIONS
The COMT Val158Met polymorphism possibly influences the morphometry of the corpus callosum associated with very preterm births. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to conclusively establish the effects of individual genotypes of the COMT gene on corpus callosum in preterm born adults.
Dutt
Anirban
A
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry (King's College London, London, UK. anirban.dutt@kcl.ac.uk
Shaikh
Madiha
M
Ganguly
Taposhri
T
Nosarti
Chiara
C
Walshe
Muriel
M
Arranz
Maria
M
Rifkin
Larry
L
McDonald
Colm
C
Chaddock
Christopher A
CA
McGuire
Philip
P
Murray
Robin M
RM
Bramon
Elvira
E
Allin
Matthew P G
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D055815:Young Adult
D004247:DNA; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase