Mutational analysis of the BMP-1 gene in patients with gastroschisis

Background: Gastroschisis is a rare abdominal wall defect. Although the pathogenesis of gastroschisis is unknown, there is some evidence of the genetic etiology of gastroschisis. Recently, a functionally null deletion of the mouse bone morphogenic protein-1 (BMP-1) gene resulted in a phenotype that resembled a human neonate with gastroschisis. BMP-1 thus became the first potential candidate gene for gastroschisis. Methods: To explore this possibility the authors collected blood samples from 11 patients who had gastroschisis, Mutational analysis of exons 2 to 15 of the human BMP-1 gene was performed using genomic polymerase chain reaction, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing methods. Results: No mutation of the human BMP-1 gene was observed in any of these patients. Conclusion: Although heterogeneous etiologies might be proposed for gastroschisis, our results provide further evidence of a nongenetic etiology for gastroschisis. J Pediatr Surg 36:885-887. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B, Saunders Company.