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Molecular Autism
Published in: Molecular Autism 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Support for calcium channel gene defects in autism spectrum disorders

Authors: Ake Tzu-Hui Lu, Xiaoxian Dai, Julian A Martinez-Agosto, Rita M Cantor

Published in: Molecular Autism | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Alternation of synaptic homeostasis is a biological process whose disruption might predispose children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Calcium channel genes (CCG) contribute to modulating neuronal function and evidence implicating CCG in ASD has been accumulating. We conducted a targeted association analysis of CCG using existing genome-wide association study (GWAS) data and imputation methods in a combined sample of parent/affected child trios from two ASD family collections to explore this hypothesis.

Methods

A total of 2,176 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (703 genotyped and 1,473 imputed) covering the genes that encode the α1 subunit proteins of 10 calcium channels were tested for association with ASD in a combined sample of 2,781 parent/affected child trios from 543 multiplex Caucasian ASD families from the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange (AGRE) and 1,651 multiplex and simplex Caucasian ASD families from the Autism Genome Project (AGP). SNP imputation using IMPUTE2 and a combined reference panel from the HapMap3 and the 1,000 Genomes Project increased coverage density of the CCG. Family-based association was tested using the FBAT software which controls for population stratification and accounts for the non-independence of siblings within multiplex families. The level of significance for association was set at 2.3E-05, providing a Bonferroni correction for this targeted 10-gene panel.

Results

Four SNPs in three CCGs were associated with ASD. One, rs10848653, is located in CACNA1C, a gene in which rare de novo mutations are responsible for Timothy syndrome, a Mendelian disorder that features ASD. Two others, rs198538 and rs198545, located in CACN1G, and a fourth, rs5750860, located in CACNA1I, are in CCGs that encode T-type calcium channels, genes with previous ASD associations.

Conclusions

These associations support a role for common CCG SNPs in ASD.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Support for calcium channel gene defects in autism spectrum disorders
Authors
Ake Tzu-Hui Lu
Xiaoxian Dai
Julian A Martinez-Agosto
Rita M Cantor
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Molecular Autism / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 2040-2392
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/2040-2392-3-18

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