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Tyrosine Hydroxylase TH 01 9.3 Allele in the Occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Swiss Caucasians
Author(s) -
Studer Jacqueline,
Bartsch Christine,
Haas Cordula
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12526
Subject(s) - sudden infant death syndrome , tyrosine hydroxylase , allele , gene , allele frequency , endocrinology , biology , medicine , population , genetics , dopamine , pediatrics , environmental health
Catecholamines, especially noradrenalin, are essential in the control of respiration and arousal. Thus, an impaired production of these neurotransmitters may contribute to the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS ). The first step of the noradrenergic synthesis pathway is catalyzed by the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase ( TH ). The TH ‐encoding gene contains a tetrameric short tandem repeat in intron 1 ( TH 01), with allele 9.3 reported to be associated with SIDS in G erman infants. We investigated the allelic frequency of the TH 01 marker in 171 S wiss SIDS infants and 500 healthy and gender‐matched C aucasian adults. In our study population, the allelic frequency of the 9.3 allele is similarly distributed in SIDS cases and controls (27.2% vs. 25.6%; p ‐value = 0.562). Nevertheless, the TH ‐encoding gene is only one of several genes involved in the noradrenergic biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, further genetic investigations are required with focus on the whole noradrenergic signaling system.