Genetic Polymorphisms of MTRRA66G Genes and Susceptibility to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the Yemeni Population

Background: Folic acid metabolism has a major role in DNA methylation and synthesis. Genetic Polymorphisms in folate may disrupt enzyme activities and maybe affect the malignant risk.

Methionine synthase reductase <MTRR> are very important enzyme for the folate cycle.

Objectives: To study the possible relation between polymorphisms of MTRRA66G genes and susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Yemeni patients.

Methods: A total of 115 patients with ALL attended oncology centers in Yemen and 140 unrelated healthy individuals as a control group was involved in a case-control study. DNA was extracted from collected EDTA venous blood samples and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay [PCR-RFLP].

Results: The frequency of MTRR 66A-G heterozygous (AG), homozygous (GG) and wild type (AA) in cases was 52.2% (60), 22.6% (26), and 25.2% (29), respectively. Whereas, the frequency of MTRR 66A-G heterozygous (AG), homozygous (GG) and wild type (AA) in controls was 46.4% (65), 27.1% (38), and 26.4% (37), respectively. The difference in frequencies were statistically insignificant (P=0.471, OR = 1.065, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.606–1.873).

Conclusion: Our finding for MTRR A66G polymorphism does not associate with the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Yemeni patients.