title: An integrated meta-analysis of two variants in HOXA1/HOXB1 and their effect on the risk of autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HOXA1 and HOXB1 have been strongly posed as candidate genes for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) given their important role in the development of hindbrain. The A218G (rs10951154) in HOXA1 and the insertion variant in HOXB1 (nINS/INS, rs72338773) were of special interest for ASD but with inconclusive results. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis integrating case-control and transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) studies to clearly discern the effect of these two variants in ASD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple electronic databases were searched to identify studies assessing the A218G and/or nINS/INS variant in ASD. Data from case-control and TDT studies were analyzed in an allelic model using the Catmap software. A total of 10 and 7 reports were found to be eligible for meta-analyses of A218G and nINS/INS variant, respectively. In overall meta-analysis, the pooled OR for the 218G allele and the INS allele was 0.97 (95% CI = 0.76-1.25, P(heterogeneity) = 0.029) and 1.14 (95% CI = 0.97-1.33, P(heterogeneity) = 0.269), respectively. No significant association was also identified between these two variants and ASD risk in stratified analysis. Further, cumulative meta-analysis in chronologic order showed the inclination toward null-significant association for both variants with continual adding studies. Additionally, although the between-study heterogeneity regarding the A218G is not explained by study design, ethnicity, and sample size, the sensitive analysis indicated the stability of the result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggests the HOXA1 A218G and HOXB1 nINS/INS variants may not contribute significantly to ASD risk.
authors: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huangzhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Ran-Ran
authors: RR
authors: Song
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zou
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Zhong
authors: Xia-Wen
authors: XW
authors: Zheng
authors: Bei-Bei
authors: BB
authors: Zhu
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Liu
authors: Xiao-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Miao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017594:Publication Bias; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D000099261:Homeobox A1 Protein
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099261:Homeobox A1 Protein; C101121:HOXB1 homeodomain protein