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Boyd R, McMullen H, Beqaj H, Kalfa D. Environmental Exposures and Congenital Heart Disease. Pediatrics 2022; 149:183839. [PMID: 34972224 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-052151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital abnormality worldwide, affecting 8 to 12 infants per 1000 births globally and causing >40% of prenatal deaths. However, its causes remain mainly unknown, with only up to 15% of CHD cases having a determined genetic cause. Exploring the complex relationship between genetics and environmental exposures is key in understanding the multifactorial nature of the development of CHD. Multiple population-level association studies have been conducted on maternal environmental exposures and their association with CHD, including evaluating the effect of maternal disease, medication exposure, environmental pollution, and tobacco and alcohol use on the incidence of CHD. However, these studies have been done in a siloed manner, with few examining the interplay between multiple environmental exposures. Here, we broadly and qualitatively review the current literature on maternal and paternal prenatal exposures and their association with CHD. We propose using the framework of the emerging field of the exposome, the environmental complement to the genome, to review all internal and external prenatal environmental exposures and identify potentiating or alleviating synergy between exposures. Finally, we propose mechanistic pathways through which susceptibility to development of CHD may be induced via the totality of prenatal environmental exposures, including the interplay between placental and cardiac development and the internal vasculature and placental morphology in early stages of pregnancy.
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Patel J, Bircan E, Tang X, Orloff M, Hobbs CA, Browne ML, Botto LD, Finnell RH, Jenkins MM, Olshan A, Romitti PA, Shaw GM, Werler MM, Li J, Nembhard WN. Paternal genetic variants and risk of obstructive heart defects: A parent-of-origin approach. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009413. [PMID: 33684136 PMCID: PMC7971842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research on risk factors for obstructive heart defects (OHDs) focused on maternal and infant genetic variants, prenatal environmental exposures, and their potential interaction effects. Less is known about the role of paternal genetic variants or environmental exposures and risk of OHDs. We examined parent-of-origin effects in transmission of alleles in the folate, homocysteine, or transsulfuration pathway genes on OHD occurrence in offspring. We used data on 569 families of liveborn infants with OHDs born between October 1997 and August 2008 from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study to conduct a family-based case-only study. Maternal, paternal, and infant DNA were genotyped using an Illumina Golden Gate custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. Relative risks (RR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and likelihood ratio tests from log-linear models were used to estimate the parent-of-origin effect of 877 SNPs in 60 candidate genes in the folate, homocysteine, and transsulfuration pathways on the risk of OHDs. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing. We identified 3 SNPs in the transsulfuration pathway and 1 SNP in the folate pathway that were statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. Among infants who inherited paternally-derived copies of the G allele for rs6812588 in the RFC1 gene, the G allele for rs1762430 in the MGMT gene, and the A allele for rs9296695 and rs4712023 in the GSTA3 gene, RRs for OHD were 0.11 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.29, P = 9.16x10-7), 0.30 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.53, P = 9.80x10-6), 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.57, P = 2.28x10-5), and 0.34 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.58, P = 3.77x10-5), respectively, compared to infants who inherited maternally-derived copies of the same alleles. We observed statistically significant decreased risk of OHDs among infants who inherited paternal gene variants involved in folate and transsulfuration pathways. Obstructive heart defects are birth defects that cause obstruction to the blood flow of the developing heart. Common OHDs include coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis and pulmonary stenosis. While there is a fair amount of literature indicating an association between maternal genetic variants and OHDs, less is known about the role of paternal genetic variants in the etiology of OHDs. We used a genotype clustering algorithm, SNPMClust, that was developed in-house at the Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention to study the role of paternal genetic variants in the folate, homocysteine and transsulfuration pathways. Maternal, paternal, and infant DNA specimens were collected from participants of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a large population-based case-control study in the United States, and were genotyped using an Illumina Golden Gate custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. We identified 4 SNPs in the folate and transsulfuration pathways, rs6812588, rs1762430, rs9296695, and rs4712023, that were associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of OHDs for infants who inherited a paternally-derived copy of the variant allele compared to infants who inherited a maternal copy of the variant allele. In conclusion, we observed a significantly decreased risk and less epigenetic influence of paternal genetic variants on OHDs compared to maternally-derived variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenil Patel
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Emine Bircan
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Xinyu Tang
- Biostatistics Program, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Mohammed Orloff
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Charlotte A. Hobbs
- Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Marilyn L. Browne
- Birth Defects Research Section, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo D. Botto
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America
| | - Richard H. Finnell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Mary M. Jenkins
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Andrew Olshan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Paul A. Romitti
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Gary M. Shaw
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Martha M. Werler
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Jingyun Li
- Biostatistics Program, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
| | - Wendy N. Nembhard
- Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Maternal Body Mass Index and Risk of Congenital Heart Defects in Infants: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1315796. [PMID: 31360700 PMCID: PMC6642764 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1315796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Objective The exact shape of the dose-response relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and the risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in infants has not been clearly defined yet. This study aims to further clarify the relationship between maternal obesity and the risk of CHDs in infants by an overall and dose-response meta-analysis. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify all related studies. The studies were limited to human cohort or case-control studies in English language. Random-effect models and dose-response meta-analysis were used to synthesize the results. Heterogeneity, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also assessed. Results Nineteen studies with 2,416,546 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with the mothers with normal weight, the pooled relative risks (RRs) of infants with CHDs were 1.08 (95% CI=1.03-1.13) in overweight and 1.23 (95% CI=1.17-1.29) in obese mothers. According to the findings from the linear meta-analysis, we observed an increased risk of infants with CHDs (RR=1.07, 95% CI=1.06-1.08) for each 5 kg/m2 increase in maternal BMI. A nonlinear relationship between maternal BMI and risk of infants with CHDs was also found (p=0.012). Conclusion The results from our meta-analysis indicate that increased maternal BMI is related to increased risk of CHDs in infants.
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Tang X, Eberhart JK, Cleves MA, Li J, Li M, MacLeod S, Nembhard WN, Hobbs CA. PDGFRA gene, maternal binge drinking and obstructive heart defects. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11083. [PMID: 30038270 PMCID: PMC6056529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29160-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obstructive heart defects (OHDs) are a major health concern worldwide. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) genes are known to have regulatory functions that are essential for proper heart development. In a zebrafish model, Pdgfra was further demonstrated to interact with ethanol during craniofacial development. In this article, we investigated interactions between variants in PDGF genes and periconceptional alcohol exposure on the risk of OHDs by applying log-linear models to 806 OHD case and 995 control families enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. The interactions between four variants in PDGFA and maternal binge drinking reached a nominal significance level. The maternal T allele of rs869978 was estimated to increase OHD risk among women who binge drink, while infant genotypes of rs2291591, rs2228230, rs1547904, and rs869978 may reduce the risk. Although none of these associations remain statistically significant after multiple testing adjustment and the estimated maternal effect may be influenced by unknown confounding factors, such as maternal smoking, these findings are consistent with previous animal studies supporting potential interactions between the PDGFRA gene and maternal alcohol exposure. Replication studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further elucidate this potential interplay and its influence on OHD risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Tang
- Biostatistics Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA
| | - Johann K Eberhart
- Department of Molecular and Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, 78712, USA
| | - Mario A Cleves
- Biostatistics Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA
| | - Jingyun Li
- Biostatistics Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Indiana University at Bloomington, Bloomington, 47405, USA
| | - Stewart MacLeod
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA
| | - Wendy N Nembhard
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA
| | - Charlotte A Hobbs
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, 72202, USA.
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Nembhard WN, Tang X, Li J, MacLeod SL, Levy J, Schaefer GB, Hobbs CA. A parent-of-origin analysis of paternal genetic variants and increased risk of conotruncal heart defects. Am J Med Genet A 2018; 176:609-617. [PMID: 29399948 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.38611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The association between conotruncal heart defects (CTHDs) and maternal genetic and environmental exposures is well studied. However, little is known about paternal genetic or environmental exposures and risk of CTHDs. We assessed the effect of paternal genetic variants in the folate, homocysteine, and transsulfuration pathways on risk of CTHDs in offspring. We utilized National Birth Defects Prevention Study data to conduct a family-based case only study using 616 live-born infants with CTHDs, born October 1997-August 2008. Maternal, paternal and infant DNA was genotyped using an Illumina® Golden Gate custom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) from log-linear models determined parent of origin effects for 921 SNPs in 60 candidate genes involved in the folate, homocysteine, and transsulfuration pathways on risk of CTHDs. The risk of CTHD among children who inherited a paternally derived copy of the A allele on GLRX (rs17085159) or the T allele of GLRX (rs12109442) was 0.23 (95%CI: 0.12, 0.42; p = 1.09 × 10-6 ) and 0.27 (95%CI: 0.14, 0.50; p = 2.06 × 10-5 ) times the risk among children who inherited a maternal copy of the same allele. The paternally inherited copy of the GSR (rs7818511) A allele had a 0.31 (95%CI: 0.18, 0.53; p = 9.94 × 10-6 ] risk of CTHD compared to children with the maternal copy of the same allele. The risk of CTHD is less influenced by variants in paternal genes involved in the folate, homocysteine, or transsulfuration pathways than variants in maternal genes in those pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy N Nembhard
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas.,Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Xinyu Tang
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Jingyun Li
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Stewart L MacLeod
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Joseph Levy
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Gerald B Schaefer
- Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Charlotte A Hobbs
- Division of Birth Defects Research, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas
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Zhu Y, Chen Y, Feng Y, Yu D, Mo X. Association between maternal body mass index and congenital heart defects in infants: A meta-analysis. CONGENIT HEART DIS 2018; 13:271-281. [PMID: 29363266 DOI: 10.1111/chd.12567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We conducted this meta-analysis to address the open question of a possible association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and congenital heart defects (CHDs) in infants. We conducted a comprehensive computerized search of PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Embase databased (January 1980 through August 2017). We assessed the association between maternal BMI and the risk for congenital heart defects in their offspring. Study-specific relative risk estimates were polled according to random-effect or fixed-effect models. From 2567 citations, a total of 13 case-control studies and 4 cohort studies were selected for a meta-analysis, including more than 1 150 000 cases. The pooled odds radio (OR) of 1.065 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.021-1.100; P = .001; I2 = 60.1%) indicated a positive effect of maternal overweight status (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 ) on the risk for congenital heart defects in infants. Moreover, we observed a significant association between maternal obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 ) and congenital heart defects in their offspring (OR: 1.174; 95% CI, 1.146-1.203, P = 0.161; I2 =25.5%). However, there was little significant evidence of an association between maternal underweight status (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 ) and offspring with congenital heart defects, and the pooled OR was 1.015 (95% CI, 0.980-1.052; P = 0.085; I2 =34.0%). Our meta-analysis provides robust evidence of the positive association between maternal BMI and the risk for fetal congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow, China
| | - Di Yu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuming Mo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Daud ANA, Bergman JEH, Kerstjens-Frederikse WS, van der Vlies P, Hak E, Berger RMF, Groen H, Wilffert B. Prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors and congenital heart anomalies: an exploratory pharmacogenetics study. Pharmacogenomics 2017. [PMID: 28639488 DOI: 10.2217/pgs-2017-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore the role of pharmacogenetics in determining the risk of congenital heart anomalies (CHA) with prenatal use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. METHODS We included 33 case-mother dyads and 2 mother-only (child deceased) cases of CHA in a case-only study. Ten genes important in determining fetal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors were examined: CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, ABCB1, SLC6A4, HTR1A, HTR1B, HTR2A and HTR3B. RESULTS Among the exposed cases, polymorphisms that tended to be associated with an increased risk of CHA were SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR, HTR1A rs1364043, HTR1B rs6296 and rs6298 and HTR3B rs1176744, but none reached statistical significance due to our limited sample sizes. CONCLUSION We identified several polymorphisms that might potentially affect the risk of CHA among exposed fetuses, which warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aizati N A Daud
- Unit of PharmacoTherapy, -Epidemiology & -Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Jorieke E H Bergman
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Pieter van der Vlies
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eelko Hak
- Unit of PharmacoTherapy, -Epidemiology & -Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf M F Berger
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk Groen
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bob Wilffert
- Unit of PharmacoTherapy, -Epidemiology & -Economics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of this review is to highlight recent discoveries in the field of genetics as it relates to congenital heart disease (CHD). Recent advancements in next generation sequencing technology and tools to interpret this growing body of data have allowed us to refine our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that result in CHD. RECENT FINDINGS From multiple different study designs, the genetic lesions that cause CHD are increasingly being elucidated. Of the more novel findings, a forward genetic screen in mice has implicated recessive inheritance and the ciliome broadly in CHD pathogenesis. The developmental delays frequently observed in patients with CHD appear to result from mutations affecting genes that overlap heart and brain developmental regulation. A meta-analysis has provided clarity, discriminating pathologic from incidental copy number variations and defining a critical region or gene. SUMMARY Recent technological advances have rapidly expanded our understanding of CHD genetics, and support the applicability to the clinical domain in both sporadic and inherited disease. Though significant gaps remain, genetic lesions remain the primary explanation for CHD pathogenesis, although the precise mechanism is likely multifactorial.
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Li M, Li J, Wei C, Lu Q, Tang X, Erickson SW, Macleod SL, Hobbs CA. A Three-Way Interaction among Maternal and Fetal Variants Contributing to Congenital Heart Defects. Ann Hum Genet 2016; 80:20-31. [PMID: 26612412 PMCID: PMC4839294 DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) develop through a complex interplay between genetic variants, epigenetic modifications, and maternal environmental exposures. Genetic studies of CHDs have commonly tested single genetic variants for association with CHDs. Less attention has been given to complex gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions. In this study, we applied a recently developed likelihood-ratio Mann-Whitney (LRMW) method to detect joint actions among maternal variants, fetal variants, and maternal environmental exposures, allowing for high-order statistical interactions. All subjects are participants from the National Birth Defect Prevention Study, including 623 mother-offspring pairs with CHD-affected pregnancies and 875 mother-offspring pairs with unaffected pregnancies. Each individual has 872 single nucleotide polymorphisms encoding for critical enzymes in the homocysteine, folate, and trans-sulfuration pathways. By using the LRMW method, three variants (fetal rs625879, maternal rs2169650, and maternal rs8177441) were identified with a joint association to CHD risk (nominal P-value = 1.13e-07). These three variants are located within genes BHMT2, GSTP1, and GPX3, respectively. Further examination indicated that maternal SNP rs2169650 may interact with both fetal SNP rs625879 and maternal SNP rs8177441. Our findings suggest that the risk of CHD may be influenced by both the intragenerational interaction within the maternal genome and the intergenerational interaction between maternal and fetal genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University at Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Jingyun Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 72211
| | - Changshuai Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107
| | - Qing Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Xinyu Tang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 72211
| | - Stephen W. Erickson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 72211
| | - Stewart L. Macleod
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 72211
| | - Charlotte A. Hobbs
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 72211
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