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A common FMO3 polymorphism may amplify the effect of nicotine exposure in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

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Abstract

Smoking during pregnancy has been identified as one of the major modifiable risk factors of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It has been demonstrated that the risk of SIDS increases with increasing cigarette consumption. A variety of hypotheses have been proposed for explanation, including a genetic predisposition. The flavin-monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) is one of the enzymes metabolising nicotine, and several polymorphisms have already been described in this gene. Here, we studied variations in the exons and introns of the FMO3 gene by direct sequencing analysis and minisequencing in 159 SIDS cases and 170 controls. The three common variants G472A (E158K), G769A (V257M) and A923G (E308G) in the exons of the FMO3 gene were identified. The homozygote 472AA genotype occurred more frequently in SIDS cases than in controls (p = 0.0054) and was more frequent in those SIDS cases for which the mothers reported heavy smoking (p = 0.0084). This study is the first to demonstrate a gene–environment interaction in SIDS. The findings suggest that the common polymorphism G472A of FMO3 could act as an additional genetic SIDS risk factor in children whose mothers smoke. Parents who could pass on the 472A allele should be informed of the increased risk associated with smoking. Smoking mothers should be strongly advised to give up smoking during pregnancy and for at least the first year of the child’s life.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by a grant from the IFORES programme run by the Essen University Hospital.

The study of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was funded between 1998 and 2003 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Science.

The members of the GeSID study group included: P. Bach, B. Brinkmann, B. Bockholt, M. Bohnert, U. Cremer, U. Deml, M. Findeisen, A. Freislederer, S. Heide, W. Huckenbeck, K. Jachau, G. Jorch, H-J. Kaatsch, A. Klein, W.J. Kleemann†, W. Köpcke, K.-P. Larsch, A. Fieguth, D. Fischer, W. Leukel, C. Ortmann, E. Rauch, W. Paulus, R. Penning, F. Rublack, C. Sauerland, M. Schlaud, B. Schmidt, J. Sperhake, G. Zimmer and R. Zweihoff.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Micaela Poetsch, Marco Czerwinski, Lisa Wingenfeld & Thomas Bajanowski

  2. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

    Mechtild Vennemann

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  1. Micaela Poetsch
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  2. Marco Czerwinski
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  3. Lisa Wingenfeld
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  4. Mechtild Vennemann
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  5. Thomas Bajanowski
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Correspondence to Micaela Poetsch.

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Poetsch, M., Czerwinski, M., Wingenfeld, L. et al. A common FMO3 polymorphism may amplify the effect of nicotine exposure in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Int J Legal Med 124, 301–306 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-010-0428-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-010-0428-6

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