Genetic basis of susceptibility to environmentally induced neural tube defects

Richard H. Finnell, Janee Gelineau Van Waes, Gregory D. Bennett, Robert C. Barber, Bogdan Wlodarczyk, Gary M. Shaw, Edward J. Lammer, Jorge A. Piedrahita, James H. Eberwine

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common of all human congenital defects, with multifactorial etiologies comprising both environmental and genetic components. Several murine model systems have been developed in an effort to elucidate genetic factors regulating expression of NTDs. Strain-dependent differences in susceptibility to teratogenic insults and altered patterns of gene expression observed within the neuroepithelium of affected embryos support the hypothesis that subtle genetic changes can result in NTDs. Since several affected genes are folate-regulated, transgenic knockout mice lacking a functional folate receptor were developed. Nullizygous embryos died in utero with significant morphological defects, supporting the critical role of folic acid in early embryogenesis. While epidemiological studies have not established an association between polymorphisms in the human folate receptor gene and NTDs, it is known that folate supplementation reduces infant NTD risk. Continued efforts are therefore necessary to reveal the mechanism by which folate works and the nature of the gene(s) responsible for human NTDs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-277
Number of pages17
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume919
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

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