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Interethnic variability in birth weight and genetic background: a study of placental alkaline phosphatase
A Amante1, P Borgiani, A Gimelfarb
1Cattedra di Pediatria Preventiva e Sociale, Dipartimento di Chirurgia, II Universita di Roma, Italy.
Insights
The human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) genotype ALPp*1/*1 is linked to lower birth weight, particularly in non-white infants. This suggests a potential evolutionary adaptation to past adverse environmental conditions.
Area of Science:
- Human genetics
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Biochemical markers
Background:
- Human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is an enzyme with known genetic variations.
- Birth weight is a critical indicator of infant health and development.
- Previous studies suggest potential ethnic differences in PLAP allele frequencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) genotype and birth weight.
- To examine ethnic variations in PLAP genotype frequencies and their relation to birth weight.
- To explore potential adaptive significance of PLAP allele distribution.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in newborns.
- Analysis of birth weight data and classification into low birth weight (below 10th percentile).
- Comparison of genotype frequencies and birth weight percentiles across ethnic groups (white, black, Puerto Rican).
Main Results:
- A higher incidence of growth retardation and ALPp*1/*1 genotype was observed in black and Puerto Rican infants compared to white infants.
- Infants with the ALPp*1/*1 genotype exhibited a lower proportion of low birth weight, especially among non-white newborns.
- The ALPp*1 allele was more frequent in non-white populations.
Conclusions:
- The ALPp*1/*1 genotype is associated with a reduced risk of low birth weight, particularly in non-white infants.
- Higher ALPp*1 allele frequency in non-white populations may reflect past adaptation to environments challenging intrauterine development.
- PLAP genotype could be a factor influencing birth weight and adaptation in diverse human populations.
Abstract:
The relationship between human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) genotype and birth weight is investigated in a sample of white, black and Puerto-Rican new-born infants from New Haven, Connecticut (total 710 subjects). Black and Puerto-Rican infants show a higher incidence of growth retardation and a higher frequency of ALPp*1/*1 genotype as compared to whites. The proportion of newborns with a low birth weight (below the 10th percentile) is lower in infants with ALPp*1/*1 genotype than in those with other PLAP genotypes, especially among non-whites. It is argued that the higher frequency of ALPp*1 allele among non-whites might be, at least in part, a consequence of their adaptation in the past to environmental conditions adverse to optimal intrauterine development.