Amel Abbas^1,2*, Karima Sifi^2,3, Karima Benembarek³, Nourredine Abadi^2,3
1Medicine faculty, Ouargla University, Ouargla, Algeria.
²Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Genetics, CHU Benbadis, Constantine, Algeria.
³Laboratory of Biochemistry, CHU Benbadis, Constantine, Algeria.
DOI: 10.4236/ojgen.2021.113004   PDF    HTML   XML   214 Downloads   1,124 Views   Citations

Abstract

Background: As C677T mutation, A1298C mutation in methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene results in a decreased MTHFR activity but to a less extent, it is known as a risk factor of predisposition to human neural tube defects (NTDs), in some populations. Our objective was therefore to study, for the first time in Algerian population, if A1298C polymorphism confers risk for the occurrence of this abnormality. We have examined the distribution of the genotype and the allele frequencies of A1298C mutation, and also their influence on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentration. Patients and Methods: We studied this polymorphism in 38 mothers of NTD cases and 67 control individuals of an eastern Algerian population. The mutation was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR/RFLP). Plasma homocysteine concentration was analyzed using an automated chemiluminescence method. Results: No signi?cant association could be observed between allele and genotypes frequencies of A1298C MTHFR gene polymorphism and NTDs risk. However, we could observe that A1298C polymorphism affects homocysteine metabolism in mothers of NTD cases leading to homocysteine concentration values higher in AA genotype and lower in AC/CC genotypes (15.29 ± 11.8 μmol/l vs. 8.63 ± 3.83 μmol/l, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Data indicate that A1298C MTHFR gene polymorphism might be a risk factor by affecting homocysteine metabolism in mothers of Algerian children with NTDs.

Keywords

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, A1298C Polymorphism, Homocyste-ine, Neural Tube Defects

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1. Introduction

Neural tube defects (NTDs) represent a common group of severe congenital malformations that result from a failure of neural tube closure during early development [1] . Statistics show an incidence of NTDs equal to 7.5 per 1000 births in Algeria [2] , very superior to the prevalence observed in other countries [3] [4] [5] [6] .

The aetiology of these malformations is complex involving environmental and genetic factors [1] [7] . Abnormalities in folate and homocysteine (Hcy) metabolisms, such as hyperhomocysteinemia or vitamin-cofactor and enzyme deficiencies, may be responsible for these malformations. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is a critical enzyme in these metabolisms. It functions as a methyl donor for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, playing a key role in DNA methylation and synthesis involved in the neurulation process [8] .

Several mutations have been identified due to the decrease of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme activity. Most studies focused on the C677T polymorphism (rs1801133), as a risk factor of NTDs [9] [10] [11] . In certain populations, this mutation is associated with an increased risk in infants and their mothers [12] [13] [14] [15] .

For its part, A1298C (rs1801131) is a single nucleotide polymorphism repre- senting an A to C transversion in exon 7 results in a substitution of glutamic acid residue to an alanine at the position 429 in the regulatory domain of the protein (Van der put et al., 1998). It has been found to be associated with a reduced level of enzyme activity but not as severe as with C677T [16] [17] . Conflicting results exist regarding the association of A1298C MTHFR mutation with NTDs risk [15] [18] [19] .

The C677T mutation as a risk factor of neural tube defects in Algerian population has been studied in mothers of NTD infants in our previous work [20] . Obtained results showed that C677T genotype frequencies were not significantly different from those of controls. However, we have shown that this mutation was mainly responsible for the increase of homocysteine among mothers of children having NTDs.

In this study, we have tried to extend our investigation to the A1298C mutation. We examined the genotypes frequencies of the A1298C polymorphism in mothers of NTD infants. We have also investigated the impact of the mutation on homocysteine metabolism.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Subjects

The study population included 38 mothers of NTD cases aged between 21 and 41 years, and a control group including 67 mothers aged between 19 and 44 years. They were recruited from the maternity services of the University Hospital of Constantine CHU and from Ouargla Hospital (Constantine and Ouargla are two cities located in the eastern part of Algeria).

For mothers who had an affected NTD infant we purposely restricted our study to those which are not pregnant at the time of blood sampling and did not use multivitamin supplements or under treatment of any kind. Types of neural tube abnormalities observed in the children of these mothers are essentially, spina bifida and encephalocele.

The control group is composed of women without personal and family history of NTD. They have been selected to fill the same age, socioeconomic level and conditions mentioned above as those of mothers of NTD patients. The local ethics committee approved the protocol and informed consent was obtained from the participant relatives.

2.2. Metabolite Analysis

Fasting blood samples were collected in Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid (EDTA) treated Vacutainer tubes. The plasma obtained by centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 8 min was frozen at −20˚C for homocysteine analysis, total plasma homocysteine concentration was determined using the Immulite 2000 system, an automated fluorescence polarization immunoassay based on the reduction of protein-bound homocysteine and mixed disulfide forms. Free homocysteine is enzymatically converted into S-adenosylL-homocysteine, which is then recognized by a monoclonal antibody.

2.3. Genetic Analyses

DNA was extracted from blood required in vacutainer K3EDTA tubes using NaCl method. The principle of the technique is to separate leukocytes of total blood by hypotonic lysis of red blood cells. They are then treated by a detergent sodium dodecyl sulfat (SDS) and proteinase K to degrade membranes and proteins. Nuclear DNA is released and the proteins associated are eliminated by NaCl precipitation. The DNA pelot is formed in the supernatant by precipitation with ethanol then solubilized in aqueous phase.

A1298C Polymorphism in MTHFR gene was examined using Polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.

A 163bp fragment encompassing the 1298 nucleotide of MTHFR gene was amplified using primers as follows: forward 5’CTTTGGGGAGCTGAAGGAC TACTAC3’ and reverse 5’-R CACTTTGTGACCATTCCGGTTTG3’. Cycling conditions of PCR were: initial denaturation at 94˚C for 12 min followed by 35 cycles of 94˚C for 30 s, 56˚C for 30 s, and 72˚C for 30 s with a final extension for 3 min at 72˚C. PCR was performed in a total volume of 50 µl containing genomic DNA, 25m Mof MgCl₂, 2.5m Mof each deoxynucleotide triphosphate, 40 ng of each primer, 2 U Taq DNA polymerase and 5 µl of 10 X reaction buffer. The presence of C allele abolishes an MboII restriction site. Digestion of the 163-bp fragment of the 1298AA genotype gives five fragments of 56, 31, 30, 28, and 18 bp, whereas the 1298CC genotype results in four fragments, of, namely, 84, 31, 30, and 18 bp. Restriction enzyme analysis was used as described previously [16] . All fragments were resolved on a 3% agarose with 1% nusieve gel.

2.4. Statistical Analyses

The risk of NTDs associated with genotype was estimated by odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals, the level of significance was set at P < 0.05.

The association between A1298C genotypes and the concentration of Hcy was performed using ANOVA test in the case of equal variance and using the Mann Witney test in the case of unequal variance. Statistical analyses were conducted using Epi info software (version 6.0).

3. Results

3.1. Distribution of Genotypic and Allelic Frequencies of the Polymorphism A1298C in Mothers of NTD Cases and Control Mothers

The observed prevalence of gene mutation in control mothers versus mothers of NTD cases are given in Table 1. The polymorphism agree with the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.

The C allele frequencies of A1298C polymorphism are of 19.7% and 15.6% among mothers of NTD cases, and control mothers, respectively. There is no significant difference between mothers and controls.

Concerning genotypes, the 1298AC genotype frequency is of 34.21% for mothers against 31.34% for controls. No increased risk was observed for AC genotype in mothers of NTD cases. The 1298CC genotype is present in only one mother of NTD case (2.63%).

3.2. Effect of Polymorphisms on Homocysteine Levels

The concentrations of homocysteine stratified by MTHFR genotypes are displayed in Table 2.

The comparison of mean values of homocysteine shows a significant difference between mothers of NTD affected children and control mothers (p < 0.01).

OR. Odds Ratio.

p^¤: comparison of mean homocysteine concentration between Mother of NTD cases and Control mothers; p⁺: comparison of homocysteine between Mother of NTD cases and Control mothers regarding genotypes; p^§: comparison of homocysteine between genotypes in Mother of NTD cases and in Control mothers; NS. Not significant.

For the impact of A1298C polymorphism on Hcy concentrations, mothers of NTD cases with 1298AA genotype present significantly higher concentrations of Hcy than those with the 1298AC/1298CC genotypes (p < 0.05). A significant difference was also observed when comparing Hcy levels of AA NTD’s mothers and AA control mothers (p = 0.01).

The homocysteine concentration was slightly higher in mother controls possessing AA genotype compared with mothers having AC genotype, but the difference was not statistically significant.

4. Discussion

Conflicting data have been reported in the literature concerning the association of A1298C mutation and the risk of developing neural tube defects. Difference in the findings could be linked to ethnicity, country of origin or demographic factors. In Algerian population, it is the first work looking to this polymorphism regarding this type of birth defects.

Our results show no significant increase of the mutated allele C among mothers of NTD cases which is consistent with several previously published studies [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] . No association of the MTHFR 1298C allele and increased risk of NTDs in mothers was observed. In some of these works, lack of association was confirmed in meta-analysis, and also by analysis of case parent-triad data [22] [23] . The only group to find a direct association of the MTHFR 1298C allele is a study carried out by De Marco et al. (2002) [18] . Interaction of this polymorphism with other genetic variants, including genes of the folate and the homocysteine metabolic pathways, might be implicated in the pathophysiology of NTDs.

Significant association between mutant genotypes and NTD risk could not be demonstrated. Literature shows studies describing homozygosity and/or heterozygosity of the mutation as a risk factor for these malformations [18] , while other works, like in our case, did not report any evidence for a such association among mothers or in children [15] [26] [27] [28] [29] . In the other hand, it was indicated that genetic variants of MTHFR A1298C conferred a protective effect for NTDs in mother groups; the polymorphism significantly decreased the incidence of NTDs [30] [31] . It has been shown that homozygous AA genotype and A allele elevated the risk of NTD development [32] .

Regarding the mutation effect on metabolic activity, it has not been reported that mutant AC or CC genotypes cause hyperhomocysteinemia [16] .

In the current study, investigation of A1298C polymorphism as a NTD risk appears to be negative, but association of this polymorphism with the increase of Hcy level strengthen its contribution in NTDs occurrence. With NTD’s mother of our population, A1298C polymorphism affects homocysteine metabolism showing a higher Hcy in AA genotype and a lower values in mutant AC/CC genotypes. The significant difference in Hcy values observed between mothers of NTD cases and control mothers with AA Genotype confirms our finding, that is, the elevation of the mean Hcy level found in NTDs mothers can be linked, even partly, with this genotype.

Our observations support indeed works highlighted above [30] [31] [32] . In addition, always in agreement with our data, works carried out on NTD infants, showed that NTDs children with normal 1298AA genotype had an increased total homocysteine compared to those with 1298AC/CC mutant genotypes. Children with the genotype 1298AA even presented a low level of erythrocyte folate and vitamin B12 [21] .

More recently, in the frame of a large study [33] , an increase of Hcy in the wild-type and lower values in mutated homozygous individuals could be observed. Serum folate exhibited an opposite profile; its rate is higher in individuals with mutant genotype CC compared to subjects with normal genotype AA.

These interesting results should be considered in future investigations to better understand the A1298C polymorphism effect. It is now clear that it contribute in an alteration of one-carbon metabolism in NTD’s mother, but the mechanism of this disturbance remains ambiguous. The polymorphism does not show the same effect on homocysteine rate in control mothers. This can be explained by the multifactorial origin of NTDs. Some specific genetics in mothers of affected children may contribute to the disturbance of Hcy metabolism.

5. Conclusion

Our data indicate that A1298C MTHFR gene polymorphism affects homocysteine metabolism in mothers of Algerian children with NTDs. More studies are required to understand the potential impact of this polymorphism on homocysteine level and folate metabolism. The present work is planned to be continued over coming years, after expanding the sample size, in order to confirm and better understand the preliminary results.

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to Professor Pascale Hilbert from the Institute of Pathology and Genetics IPG (Gosselies, Belgium) for her kindly help to achieve the study as well as her team for their technical assistance.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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