title: Tyrosine hydroxylase TH01 9.3 allele in the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome in Swiss Caucasians.
abstract: Catecholamines, especially noradrenalin, are essential in the control of respiration and arousal. Thus, an impaired production of these neurotransmitters may contribute to the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The first step of the noradrenergic synthesis pathway is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The TH-encoding gene contains a tetrameric short tandem repeat in intron 1 (TH01), with allele 9.3 reported to be associated with SIDS in German infants. We investigated the allelic frequency of the TH01 marker in 171 Swiss SIDS infants and 500 healthy and gender-matched Caucasian adults. In our study population, the allelic frequency of the 9.3 allele is similarly distributed in SIDS cases and controls (27.2% vs. 25.6%; p-value = 0.562). Nevertheless, the TH-encoding gene is only one of several genes involved in the noradrenergic biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, further genetic investigations are required with focus on the whole noradrenergic signaling system.
authors: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Studer
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Bartsch
authors: Cordula
authors: C
authors: Haas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
keywords: forensic science; genetic risk factors; noradrenergic pathway; short tandem repeats; sudden infant death syndrome; tyrosine hydroxylase