Transforming growth factor-beta3 gene polymorphisms and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate risk: a meta-analysis.

AIMS: To investigate the association between transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-β3) genetic polymorphisms and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP) risk.

METHODS

An extensive literature search for relevant studies was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases from their inception through June 1st, 2013. Case-control studies addressing the correlation between TGF-β3 gene polymorphisms and NSCLP risk. The genotype distribution of the controls should conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The quality of the included studies was assessed independently by two authors based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. All analyses were calculated using the STATA 12.0 software.

RESULTS

The association between TGF-β3 gene polymorphisms and NSCLP risk was assessed. Eleven case-control studies were included with a total of 1601 NSCLP cases and 1463 healthy controls. Our meta-analysis results indicated that mutant variants of the TGF-β3 gene may be associated with an increased risk of NSCLP, especially among Asian populations. Further subgroup analyses also revealed significant associations between mutant variants of the TGF-β3 gene and an increased risk of NSCLP in the population-based and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism studies. Meta-regression analyses showed that ethnicity may be a major source of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that TGF-β3 gene polymorphisms may contribute to NSCLP susceptibility, especially among Asian populations.