Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2018 Nov;16(4):415-421. 10.9758/cpn.2018.16.4.415.

No Association between Polymorphisms of Vitamin D and Oxytocin Receptor Genes and Autistic Spectrum Disorder in a Sample of Turkish Children

• Bozdogan S
• Kutuk MO
• Tufan E
• AltıntaÅŸ Z
• Temel GO
• Toros F

• KMID: 2428971
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2018.16.4.415

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in social skills and communication with repetitive behaviors. Etiology is still unclear although it is thought to develop with interaction of genes and environmental factors. Oxytocin has extensive effects on intrauterine brain development. Vitamin D, affects neural development and differentiation and contributes to the regulation of around 900 genes including oxytocin receptor gene. In the present study, the contribution of D vitamin receptor and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms in the development of ASD in Turkish community was investigated. To our knowledge, this is the first study examining these two associated genes together in the literature.
METHODS
Eighty-five patients diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 who were referred to outpatient clinics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of BaÅŸkent University and Mersin University and 52 healthy, age and gender-matched controls were included in the present study. Vitamin D receptor gene rs731236 (Taq1), rs2228570 (Fok1), rs1544410 (Bsm1), rs7975232 (Apa1) polymorphisms and oxytocin receptor gene rs1042778 and rs2268493 polymorphisms were investigated using real time polymerase chain reaction method.
RESULTS
No significant difference between groups in terms of distribution of genotype and alleles in each of polymorphisms for these genes could be found.
CONCLUSION
Knowledge of genes and polymorphisms associated with the development of ASD may be beneficial for early diagnosis and future treatment. Further studies with larger populations are required to demonstrate molecular pathways which may play part in the development of ASD in Turkey.

Keyword

Autism spectrum disorder; Oxytocin receptors; Calcitriol receptors; Genetic polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Psychiatry
Alleles
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Brain
Child*
Early Diagnosis
Genotype
Humans
Methods
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Oxytocin*
Polymorphism, Genetic
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Receptors, Calcitriol
Receptors, Oxytocin*
Social Skills
Turkey
Vitamin D*
Vitamins*
Oxytocin
Receptors, Calcitriol
Receptors, Oxytocin
Vitamin D
Vitamins