TGF-β1polymorphism is an inflammatory disease specifier in autism spectrum disorders?

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuropsychological condition that affects brain development causing children suffers from social interaction problems, impairment in language and expression, and exhibit excessive repetitive behaviors. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) polymorphisms play a significant part in disease development and progression. The objective of this study is to investigate the involvement of TGF-β1 polymorphism in the development of ASD at two positions; codon 10 and codon 25 in particular. Method For this study, 80 samples were collected using sequence-specific primed polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR-SSP), divided into two groups, 40 autistic children and 40 controls of matched age and gender. Result This study showed that there is no association between TGF-β1 codon 10 and ASD, but a significant association of TGFβ1 in codon 25 and development of ASD. Conclusion The polymorphism of TGFβ1 at codon 25 could play an important role in the developing and progressing of ASD among Kurdish children in Erbil, Iraq.