Association of SMO polymorphisms and neural tube defects in the Chinese population from Shanxi Province

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SMO and neural tube defects (NTDs) in Chinese population. Method: A total of 113 NTDs cases and 138 healthy controls were used in this study. 10 selected single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in the SMO gene were analyzed with MassArray high-throughput DNA analyzer with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. A series of statistical methods were carried out to investigate the correlation between the SNPs and the patient susceptibility to NTDs. Results: The C allele of rs3824 increased the risk of spina bifida (OR=2.52; 95% CI: 1.18, 5.38; p=0.026) but not the risk of anencephaly or encephalocele. Significant differences were found between spina bifida and controls when we compared the GG group with the CC+CG group (OR=2.66; 95% CI: 1.26, 5.61; p=0.011). CC+CG genotype was a risk factor for spina bifida. Conclusions: The gene polymorphism loci rs3824 of SMO was closely related to spina bifida in Chinese population from Shanxi. The haplotype GA in rs3824 and rs9706 increased the risk of NTDs particularly spina bifida in women.