Polymorphisms Identified in the Upstream Core Polyadenylation Signal of IGF1 Gene Exon 6 Do Not Cause Pre- and Postnatal Growth Impairment

Background: Few children born small for gestational age (SGA) with IGF1 mutations have been reported. One of these patients presented a mutation at 3′ untranslated region (UTR) at exon 6, probably affecting the polyadenylation process. Objective: The objective of the study was to sequence the IGF1 gene of children born SGA. Patients and Methods: IGF1 (exons 1–6) was directly sequenced in 53 SGA children without catch-up growth. Allelic variant frequency of the identified IGF1 polymorphisms was assessed in a total of 145 SGA children and in 180 controls born with adequate weight and length and adult height sd score greater than −2. Results: No mutations were identified in the IGF1 coding regions in SGA children. In contrast, six allelic variants were identified in the upstream core polyadenylation signal located in IGF1 3′ UTR at exon 6. The frequency of the different allelic variants was similar in SGA children and controls. It is noteworthy that the same allelic variant, previously described as causing s...