Correlation Analysis Between NRG1-ErbB4 Gene Polymorphism And Focal Epilepsy Susceptibility

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms of neuroregulatory factor 1(NRG1)and its receptor(ErbB4)gene and the susceptibility to focal epilepsy in Yunnan population.Methods:In this case-control genetic association study including 70 epilepsy patients and 64 gender-matched normal controls,NRG1 and ErbB4 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNPs)locus and the incidence of focal epilepsy were detected by the Snapshot technique,and their association was analyzed by chi-square test and unconditioned logistic regression analysis.The statistical significance of the genotype frequency,allele frequency and gender composition of the two groups was analyzed by using the chi-square test.Age and gender were adjusted by Logistic regression,and the correlation between NRG1 polymorphism and partial epilepsy susceptibility was expressed by OR(odds ratio)and 95%CI(confidence interval).P<0.05 indicated that the difference was statistically significant.Results:Among the same population,the polymorphic phenomena of ErbB4 genes was re-detected for three selected sites of ErbB4 SNPs(rs839523?rs7598440?rs707284).Our analysis found for the first time that the distribution difference between ErbB4 SNP(rs839523,P=0.026)and its allele(P=0.013),and the distribution difference between ErbB4 SNP(rs707284,P=0.038)and its allele(P=0.018)in the same study subjects had statistical significance(P<0.05).The OR value of G/G genotype carried by SNP rs707284 was 3.656.Conclusions:People carrying ErbB4 gene with mutant homozygote G/G genotype have a higher susceptibility to epilepsy,and the NRG1-ErbB4 gene polymorphism may be involved in the occurrence of partial epilepsy.