Polymorphisms in the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 pathway do not explain low expression levels in sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate if a range of known rare and common genetic variants in the Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) pathway were present or overrepresented in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) compared to controls. Methods Genetic variations in the genes encoding TLR4, MyD88 and Interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase 4 were analysed. The subjects investigated included 158 SIDS cases with a median age of 15.25 weeks (2–47 weeks), 80 cases of infectious death with a median age of 24.9 weeks (0–285 weeks) and 199 adult controls with a median age of 50 years (11–86 years). The cases were collected in the years 1988–2017, and the autopsies were performed at the Department of Forensic Sciences at Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Results The results showed that none of the genetic variants selected from the MyD88 pathway were associated with neither SIDS nor infectious death. Most of the rare genetic variants were homozygote for the common allele in all groups, while the rest revealed allelic variation. Conclusion The genetic variations investigated in this study did not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of SIDS.

No association to sudden infant death syndrome detected by targeted amplicon sequencing of 24 genes

“…However, it is difficult to predict how the gene variant contributed to the death in SIDS. Sevaral single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the MyD88 gene have been examined, as well as SNPs in other genes in the same pathway, but did not uncovered significant SNPs 20 . The affect of MyD88 in SIDS requires more research.…”

“…SNPs in other genes in the same pathway, but did not uncovered significant SNPs 20. The affect of MyD88 in SIDS requires more research.There have been two other studies that have performed exome sequencing on SIDS cases.…”