Genetic variation in transforming growth factor alpha: possible association of BamHI polymorphism with bilateral sporadic cleft lip and palate

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is one of the most common birth defects affecting 1/1000 Caucasians. Genetic factors are thought to contribute to the development of this disorder. A significant association between two restriction fragment length polymorphisms, the TGF alpha TaqI 2.7-kb allele and the TGF alpha BamHI 40-kb allele, at the transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) locus and the occurrence of clefting has previously been reported. A total of 98 Caucasian patients of Alsacian ancestry was recruited from our registry of congenital malformations. These patients had isolated CL/P but no other anomalies. In addition 57 patients with cleft palate, but without cleft lip, were studied. A control group comprised 99 unrelated healthy Caucasians of the same Alsacian ancestry. TaqI and BamHI identify two-allele polymorphisms. The TGFA Taq and BamHI alleles showed no significant association with the presence of clefting, the only exception being that the BamHI 10.0-kb allele was significantly more frequent in patients with bilateral CL/P.