Transforming Growth Factor-α and Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip With or Without Palate or Cleft Palate Only in Kelantan, Malaysia

Objective: To determine the frequency of the transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) Taq1 polymorphism in nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL +/- P) and cleft palate only (CP) in Kelantan, Malaysia. Setting: The study was conducted at the Combined Cleft Clinic and at the Human Genome Centre in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, Malaysia. Design: We examined the C2/Taq1 variant of the TGF alpha gene in 46 patients with nonsyndromic CL +/- P or CP only and in 33 controls. The TGF alpha genotype frequencies in patients were compared with those in controls using the chi-square or Fisher exact test. DNA samples were obtained from peripheral blood. Results: No association was found between TGF alpha Taq1 polymorphism and CL +/- P or CP in this case-control study. In addition, no homozygosity for the rare allele C2 was noted in CL +/- P, CID, or the controls. Conclusion: No evidence of TGF alpha Taq1 polymorphism was observed in association with CL +/- P and CP in this study.